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

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  Architects of Peace, Contractors of War

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  Diplomacy is sometimes less the art of ending war than the art of transferring responsibility for it. Many agreements born in quiet negotiating rooms fail not because the parties disagree over principles, but because no one is willing to bear the cost of implementing them. The contemporary history of the Middle East has repeatedly shown that a deep gap exists between signing an agreement and carrying it out—a gap that is often filled by violence. The latest U.S.-brokered talks in Rome have given the June 26 framework agreement between the United States, Israel, and Lebanon a new appearance of momentum. The discussions focused on proposed “pilot zones” in which Israel is to withdraw from parts of the occupied territories, the

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  UK charges man with assisting Iran’s intelligence service

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  A man has been charged under the UK’s National Security Act over allegations of assisting Iran’s intelligence service, Sky News reported Friday, Anadolu reports. Vahid Aberi, 39, of Liverpool, was arrested Wednesday by Counter Terrorism Policing officers in the Birmingham area on suspicion of an offense under Section 3 of the National Security Act, according to the report. Officers also searched addresses in Liverpool and Birmingham, and the Crown Prosecution Service subsequently authorized the charge. Aberi was remanded in custody and was due to appear before Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, the broadcaster reported. Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said police had not identified any direct threat to the public in connection with the investigation. “We have

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  China, Pakistan urge US, Iran to cease hostilities, resume dialogue

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  The foreign ministers of China and Pakistan have called on the US and Iran to “immediately cease hostilities” and resume dialogue, according to a statement from Beijing on Friday, Anadolu reports. The comments came during a meeting between China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar in Shanghai on Wednesday, China’s Foreign Ministry said. Wang and Dar expressed “concern over the deterioration of the current situation and called on the parties involved to immediately cease hostilities, make efforts to overcome difficulties, eliminate interference, restart contacts, resume dialogue, and strive to reach a comprehensive peace agreement through negotiations,” the statement said. They said the international community should also continue to provide assistance in this regard. Lauding the role of

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  Trump ‘pissed off’ by Netanyahu’s criticism of proposed F-35 sale to Turkiye: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  US President Donald Trump was “pissed off” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s public criticism of a proposed US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, the Axios news site reported Thursday. Citing two White House officials, the news outlet said no meeting had been scheduled despite reports in Israeli media that Trump would host Netanyahu on Monday. One official reportedly said that Trump was angered by Netanyahu’s remarks during a Fox News interview shortly before the US president traveled to Ankara for the July 7-8 NATO summit. A second official said Trump believed Netanyahu had “no right” to intervene in the proposed weapons sale. The Israeli premier has reportedly sought a meeting with Trump for more than two weeks.

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  Committee of families of political prisoners calls for release of Dr Shaima Abu Ghali

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  The Committee of Families of Political Prisoners has called on the Palestinian Authority to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Shaima Abu Ghali, a former Palestinian prisoner who is currently being held in Jenin in the northern occupied West Bank. In a statement issued on Thursday, the committee condemned Abu Ghali’s arrest, describing it as politically motivated. It also called on the authorities to ensure her physical and psychological well-being during her detention and to hold those responsible accountable for any harm she may suffer. The committee described the arrest as an infringement on her freedom and said it undermined the sacrifices made by Palestinian prisoners and the families of those killed in the conflict. According to the statement, Abu Ghali

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  America’s war on international justice

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  There is something revealing about the way Washington talks about international law. When the law moves against an adversary, it becomes the language of civilisation. When the same law approaches the United States or Israel, it suddenly becomes an assault on sovereignty. That hypocrisy is no longer subtle. The Trump administration has now launched a campaign to dismantle the International Criminal Court, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio announcing what Washington calls a response to a threat against American sovereignty. The measures reportedly include travel bans, visa revocations, sanctions and diplomatic pressure on countries that continue to support the court. In plain language, the United States is not merely refusing to cooperate with the ICC. It is trying to punish

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  The legacy of Professor John Esposito: The scholar who refused to turn Islam into an enemy

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  There are scholars who interpret the world, scholars who flatter it, and scholars who quietly make it less cruel. John L. Esposito belonged emphatically to the third category. His passing deprives us not merely of a distinguished academic, but of something now far rarer: a genuine public intellectual — one who understood that scholarship is not an ornamental profession but a moral vocation. Esposito may well have been the last great public intellectual in the field now called Islamophobia studies, although he used the term less frequently than many who later made an industry of it. Long before Islamophobia became a conference theme, a specialized vocabulary, or an academic career track, he was confronting its most consequential forms: the intellectual

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  Sudan: Al-Dabba market turns into battlefield

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  Eight people were killed and 16 others, including a woman, were injured in heavy armed clashes inside the popular market in the Sudanese town of Al-Dabba on Wednesday evening. The town later came under another attack when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled the electricity substation, causing a fire and injuring one of the facility’s guards. The Sudan Doctors Network said fighting in a densely populated area was a serious violation of civilians’ rights to life and safety, particularly as women, children and elderly people were present in the market when the clashes broke out. The network blamed the security authorities for failing to control the spread of weapons, saying the uncontrolled availability of arms had become a daily threat

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  Iran again threatens to target regional infrastructure if attacked

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  Iran has again warned that it will target infrastructure across the region if its own infrastructure comes under attack. Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, spokesperson for the Iranian Armed Forces General Staff, said on Iranian state television on Thursday evening that any attack on Iran’s infrastructure would trigger retaliation. “If our infrastructure is attacked, all infrastructure in the region will become our targets,” Shekarchi said. He blamed the United States for the current tensions in the region, saying Washington’s military presence was the main cause of instability. “The problem is that the United States came here from the other side of the world. If it were not here, the countries of the region would not have these problems among themselves,” he

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  Sudan’s Burhan discusses stability with African intelligence delegation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  Sudan’s Transitional Sovereign Council Chairman and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, met a delegation from the Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) on Thursday, in the presence of the Director General of General Intelligence Service Ahmed Ibrahim Mufaddal. The CISSA delegation congratulated al-Burhan on the government’s resumption of its work from the capital, Khartoum, and praised the Sudanese state’s efforts to restore security and stability and return state institutions to operating from the capital, the Sudan News Agency (SUNA) reported. The delegation expressed its full solidarity with Sudan and its support for the government’s efforts to confront the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), stressing the importance of strengthening security and stability. During the

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  Iraqi Islamic Resistance offers $10 million reward for killing Trump

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  The Iraqi Islamic Resistance said on Thursday that it was offering a $10 million reward to anyone who kills US President Donald Trump. In a statement, the group said it had allocated a $10 million reward, collected through donations from its members and supporters, for “whoever kills the criminal Trump, or for whoever decides to allocate or direct the reward to an individual, group, entity or institution.” The statement added: “The free people of the world will continue to pursue the killer of children and scientists. Tyrants will never know peace, and the criminal will find no safe haven from the anger of honourable people. Retribution is a binding pledge upon the necks of the fighters, and the blood of

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  US strikes on bridges in Iran leave dead and injured

  by Mehdi Editor on July 17, 2026

  US air strikes targeting bridges in Iran have left at least one person dead and eight others injured, according to Iranian media. Iran’s state broadcaster reported that two bridges in the city of Bandar Khamir, in Hormozgan province, were hit. The targets were identified as the Kohurestan Bridge and the Jiroh Bridge. US aircraft also destroyed the bridge linking the Iranian cities of Bandar Abbas and Shiraz. Another Iranian report said US missiles landed near the city of Sirik. READ: Qatar categorically rejects Israeli reports of military action against Iran Reports also said one person was killed and eight others were injured in one of the attacks. A US military statement said the aim of the strikes was “to further degrade

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  Qatar categorically rejects Israeli reports of military action against Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Qatar on Thursday categorically rejected Israeli media reports claiming that Doha had agreed to participate in military action against Iran. “These allegations have been circulated by individuals seeking to draw the State of Qatar into the conflict, to undermine its pivotal role in mediation, and to push the region towards further escalation and chaos,” the International Media Office said in a statement. Doha stressed that it has repeatedly affirmed since the start of the US-Iran conflict that it “has not participated and will not participate” in any military action against any neighboring country. READ: Volkswagen’s planned defence deal with Israel blocked by Qatari investors “Qatar will not allow such misleading allegations to undermine its active diplomatic efforts to bring the conflict

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  US urges citizens in Iraq to remain alert after drone attack in Erbil

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  The US Embassy in Baghdad urged American citizens in Iraq on Thursday to maintain heightened readiness following a drone attack in the northern city of Erbil a day earlier, Anadolu reports. In a security alert, the mission advised Americans in Iraq to monitor local media and follow instructions issued by local authorities, warning that travel disruptions and airspace closures could occur with little notice. The embassy reiterated the State Department’s Level 4 “Do Not Travel” advisory for Iraq, citing “terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest” and Washington’s limited ability to provide emergency assistance to US citizens in the country. READ: US launches 5th consecutive night of strikes against Iran: Central Command “Do not travel to Iraq for any reason,” the advisory

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  US launches 5th consecutive night of strikes against Iran: Central Command

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) said Thursday that American forces launched a new wave of strikes against Iran for the fifth consecutive night, Anadolu reports. “At 2 p.m. ET today, U.S. forces began conducting a new wave of strikes against Iran for the fifth consecutive night to further degrade Iranian military capabilities,” it said. Tensions between the US and Iran have recently escalated regarding the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides exchanging attacks despite a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the conflict and reaching a lasting peace agreement. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said earlier that the reason for recent US strikes is “because Iran violated the memorandum of understanding that we struck with them.” “Specifically,

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  Iran ‘very much continues to talk’ to US: White House

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Iran continues to communicate with the US and has expressed interest in reaching a nuclear agreement despite recent US military strikes, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Thursday, Anadolu reports. Asked whether negotiations with Tehran were at a standstill or had effectively ended, Leavitt said President Donald Trump had told her that diplomatic contacts remain active. “Well, I’ve spoken with the president about this as recently as an hour ago. Iran very much continues to talk to the United States of America and express that they want to make a deal with us because they are suffering devastating blows on behalf of our United States military,” she said. Leavitt said the reason for the recent US strikes over

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  UN chief ‘deeply alarmed’ by Israel granting city status to illegal settlement in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply alarmed” by Israel’s decision to upgrade the illegal settlement of Givat Ze’ev to a city, his spokesperson said Thursday. “The Secretary-General is deeply alarmed that the Israeli authorities have granted the status of a city to Givat Ze’ev, an Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank, that is just northwest of Jerusalem,” spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference. Dujarric stressed that “this administrative designation does not alter Givat Ze’ev’s legal status under international law as part of the occupied Palestinian territory.” “The secretary-general reiterates that Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem and all related infrastructure, have no legal validity and are in flagrant violation of international law and

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  Syria, Germany sign air transport agreement, launch joint committee to advance bilateral cooperation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Syria and Germany signed an air transport agreement on Thursday and announced the formation of a joint committee to advance cooperation on economic recovery, reconstruction, investment and refugee issues. The declaration establishing the Syrian-German Joint Committee was signed in Damascus by Qutaiba Kadish, director of international cooperation at Syria’s Foreign Ministry, and German Minister of State at the Foreign Office Geza Andreas von Geyr, the SANA news agency reported. Following the signing, the committee held its inaugural session, co-chaired by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and von Geyr. According to SANA, the committee will address economic recovery, reconstruction, efforts to attract joint investments, and cooperation in the energy, transport and civil aviation sectors. It will also discuss transitional justice, missing

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  1,000 more Sudanese return home from Egypt, committee says

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Around 1,000 more Sudanese in Egypt have voluntarily returned to their country aboard 20 vehicles, a local committee said Thursday, Anadolu reports. The vehicles carrying the returnees set out from Abdeen district in central Cairo, in trips organized by the General Secretariat the Sudanese Zakat Chamber, the state news agency SUNA reported. “The repatriation operations will continue until the last Sudanese returns to his home,” said Hassan Khalid, the rapporteur of Sudan’s Hope Committee for Voluntary Return, a civil humanitarian initiative. Khalid reported a “high turnout” for the voluntary return program, particularly among university students. According to the committee, the new returnees brought the number of Sudanese who returned to Sudan from Egypt this month to 3,800 people. READ: Egypt Rejects

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  Iran reports new US strikes amid escalation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Iranian media reported new US airstrikes on Thursday evening amid rising escalation between Tehran and Washington. Mehr News Agency, citing Iranian officials, said US projectiles struck locations near Qeshm Island, off the Strait of Hormuz, at around 6:10 pm local time (1440GMT). The state broadcaster IRIB said the strike targeted the village of Masan on the island. US missiles also hit sites near the southern port city of Bandar Abbas, according to the Hormozgan governor’s office. No details were provided about casualties or the extent of damage. There was no immediate comment from US authorities on the report. Tensions between the US and Iran have escalated in recent days over the Strait of Hormuz, with the two sides exchanging attacks

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  Houthis threaten to attack oil facilities in Saudi Arabia amid Yemen tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  The Houthi group threatened Thursday to strike oil and vital facilities in Saudi Arabia if Riyadh joins attacks on Yemen, Anadolu reports. “All Saudi oil facilities and vital installations will be targets for our missiles and drones if Riyadh gets involved” in striking Yemen, Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said in a televised speech carried by the group’s Al-Masirah television. “The real equation is (…) airports for airports, ports for ports, and a blockade for a blockade,” he warned. The Houthis fired missiles toward Saudi territory on Monday following an attack by Yemeni government forces on Sanaa airport, breaking years of calm. While the Houthis accused Riyadh of carrying out the airport attack, Riyadh has declined to comment on the

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  Israeli rights group demands independent medical examination of detained Gaza hospital director

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  An Israeli human rights organization called on Thursday for an independent medical examination of detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya after an assault on him by Israeli prison guards. In a statement, Physicians for Human Rights-Israel (PHRI) said Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, told his lawyer Nasser Odeh that he had again been beaten by prison guards, injuring one of his fingers and causing bleeding. According to the group, Abu Safiya has been held without charge since December 2024 in the underground Rakefet detention facility under harsh conditions. PHRI quoted Abu Safiya as saying he was being held in isolation and that masked prison guards remained in an adjacent room during a visit by his

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  UNESCO adds 12 Palestinian sites to World Heritage Tentative List

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Palestine’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced Thursday that 12 new sites have been added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)’s World Heritage Tentative List, Anadolu reports. The move raised the total number of Palestinian sites on the Tentative List to 23, the ministry said in a statement. It said the registrations were made in cooperation with Palestine’s permanent delegation to UNESCO to strengthen the international presence of Palestinian heritage and highlight its cultural and natural diversity. Inclusion on the Tentative List precedes the preparation of nomination files for the World Heritage List and helps strengthen efforts to protect and preserve the sites while expanding international cooperation in heritage conservation and management, the ministry said. “The

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  Iran condemns US strike near children’s cancer hospital as ‘barbaric attack’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Iran on Thursday condemned a US strike near a children’s cancer hospital in the southwestern city of Ahvaz as a “barbaric attack,” saying it forced the emergency evacuation of 211 pediatric cancer patients, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said Shahid Baqaei Hospital, a specialized center for children with cancer, was evacuated Wednesday night after a US strike hit a nearby location. Describing the incident as a “barbaric attack,” Baqaei said it “caused severe suffering and anxiety” among hospitalized children and forced the emergency evacuation of 211 patients undergoing chemotherapy. He also described the strike as a “cowardly war crime” against children and compared it to Israeli attacks on health care facilities. READ: Iran criticises Oman over announcement of southern

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  Israel approves $334M for roads linking illegal settlements in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Israel’s government has approved more than 1 billion shekels ($334 million) to build and upgrade roads connecting illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli media. Israel’s Channel 7 reported Thursday that the government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the funding to finance new roads and upgrade existing infrastructure linking dozens of illegal settlements authorized by the Security Cabinet during the war. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party, described the decision as “historic.” Smotrich said the funding would facilitate the establishment of dozens of illegal settlements in “strategic locations” across the occupied West Bank. READ: West Bank: Israeli settler hits Palestinian child with car while playing in Hebron He added that

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  Syria foils attempt to smuggle weapons, missiles to Hezbollah

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Syrian authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large shipment of advanced weapons across the country’s border with Iraq that was destined for the Lebanese group Hezbollah, the Interior Ministry said Thursday, Anadolu reports. The ministry said specialized units intercepted the shipment before it entered Syrian territory after detecting a suspicious vehicle parked near the border. A search of the vehicle uncovered a cache of weapons, including long-range missiles, anti-tank guided missiles and drones, it said. Preliminary investigations, based on evidence collected during the operation, indicated that the shipment was intended to transit Syrian territory en route to Lebanon for Hezbollah, according to the ministry. The ministry said investigations were continuing to determine the full circumstances of the case, identify

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  Netanyahu cancels planned Washington trip next week

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has canceled his planned trip to Washington next week, his office said Thursday. In a statement, the office said the funeral of US Sen. Lindsey Graham “appears to have been postponed until the end of the month.” “As a result, the prime minister will not travel to the United States next week,” it added. Israeli public broadcaster KAN, reported Wednesday that Netanyahu had been expected to leave for Washington on Saturday, meet US President Donald Trump on Monday and attend Graham’s funeral on Tuesday. Later Wednesday, US news outlet Axios, citing a senior White House official, reported that no meeting between Trump and Netanyahu was on the president’s schedule for next week. The cancellation comes

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  Azerbaijan supports establishment of Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as capital: President

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev expressed his country’s support for the establishment of an “independent and sovereign” Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on Thursday, Anadolu reports. A statement by the Azerbaijani presidency said Aliyev’s remarks came during a meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa, during which he expressed confidence that the Palestinian premier’s visit would contribute to strengthening fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Palestine. “The President of Azerbaijan emphasized that our country supports the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital,” the statement said. Noting that Mustafa conveyed the greetings of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Aliyev, the statement said he asked the Palestinian prime minister to also convey his

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  ‘Things have only gotten worse’: Israel fumes as millions fail to stop collapse in US support

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  Israeli officials are reportedly furious that a $1.5 million-a-month influence campaign led by Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, Brad Parscale, has failed to halt the collapse in support for Israel among young US conservatives. Despite millions of dollars spent targeting the MAGA base, shaping social media narratives and influencing artificial intelligence platforms, polling shows that attitudes towards Israel have continued to deteriorate. The operation aimed to prevent young conservatives from turning against Israel, according to an investigation published by TIME. Publicly presented as a campaign to combat anti-Semitism, its wider strategic purpose was to preserve support for Israel among a section of the US right increasingly critical of Israel and Washington’s involvement in Israel’s regional wars. Foreign Agents Registration Act

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  When does observation become a humiliating spectacle?

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  Last week, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OCHA) led a virtual visit to Al Mawasi, Khan Younis, in Gaza for diplomats from twelve countries. Israel’s restrictions on entering Gaza has made it difficult for in person visits; hence the virtual tour so that diplomats could view how forcibly displaced Palestinians are living as a result of Israel’s genocide in Gaza. “Displaced people told the diplomats that they needed sustainable water services, especially during the hot summer days, and emphasised the need for cash-for-work opportunities to feed their families. Participants were also led through hundreds of tents crammed along the shoreline,” the OCHA report stated. No one has observed Gaza more than

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  The logic of staying: Why Hezbollah and Amal will not resign

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  The question circulating across Lebanese political commentary since the signing of the Washington framework agreement is straightforward: if Hezbollah and Amal oppose the agreement, reject its terms, and consider it a betrayal of their community, why do their ministers remain in the Salam government that signed it? Why not resign? The question assumes that resignation is an act of principle. It is not. In Lebanon’s confessional system, resignation from government is an act of strategic self-destruction. Hezbollah and Amal will not leave the cabinet because leaving the cabinet would accomplish every objective their opponents have failed to achieve through negotiation, legislation, or force. The decision to stay is not a contradiction of their rejection of the framework agreement. It is

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  West Bank: Israeli settler hits Palestinian child with car while playing in Hebron

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  A six-year-old Palestinian boy was injured on Wednesday after being hit by a car driven by an Israeli settler in the southern West Bank city of Hebron, according to his father. Mukhlis Ammar Al Slaimeh, the father of six-year-old Mukhlis Al Slaimeh, said the settler deliberately drove into his son while he was playing with other children near the Israeli military Checkpoint 160 before fleeing the scene. He said the boy suffered bruising to his face and was taken to hospital, where he is undergoing medical examinations to assess his condition. Checkpoint 160 is located at the entrance to the Al Slaimeh neighbourhood in Hebron’s Old City and separates several residential areas from the rest of the city. Residents of

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  John L Esposito, leading scholar of Islam and outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights, dies aged 86

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  John L Esposito, one of the West’s most influential scholars of Islam and the Middle East and a longstanding supporter of Palestinian, has died aged 86. The Georgetown University professor was widely known for confronting Islamophobia and rejecting portrayals of Muslims as an inherent political or security threat. In the final years of his life, he also spoke forcefully about Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the role of Western politicians, media outlets and pro-Israel organisations in marginalising Palestinian voices. In a 2024 report co-authored for Georgetown’s Bridge Initiative, Esposito examined almost 300 Facebook posts about Palestine and Israel by US presidential candidates. The study accused politicians from both major parties of devaluing Palestinian lives, reproducing anti-Muslim stereotypes and offering Israel

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  ‘Seismic shift’: More than 100 House Democrats vote to cut Israel military aid

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  In what is being viewed as a “seismic shift,” more than 100 Democrats in the US House of Representatives voted yesterday to end $3.3 billion in annual military assistance to Israel. The vote marks a dramatic break with decades of bipartisan support for the occupation state and signals that unconditional backing for Israel is becoming an electoral liability. The amendment, introduced by Republican representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky, failed by 314 votes to 104, while ten lawmakers voted present. However, the roll call showed that 103 Democrats supported the measure, compared with 98 who opposed it. Massie was the only Republican to vote in favour, while 215 members of his party rejected it. The result meant that nearly half of

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with William (Bill) Putnam & Mark Pfeifle: Military Confrontation in the Strait and Tension at NATO

  by Mehdi Editor on July 16, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Gideon Levy: A War Council, Elections Fever, or Mending Relations?

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  Trump’s board made Gaza the most dangerous place on earth to be a child

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  Mohamed al-Wahidi, 57 years old, a husband, father and grandfather, spent his days doing what aid workers do in a place with almost nothing left: clearing rubble, reopening roads, repairing a leaking pipe, filling a community water tank, or building tents for families with nowhere else to go. In his spare time, he carried out a “perilous project” setting up screens and generators across Gaza so people could watch the World Cup. On the eve of Egypt’s match against Argentina, Israel killed him along with the 33-year-old taxi driver as well as two young brothers, ages 8 and 10, walking nearby. Israel’s military said it was investigating “the incident.” As it almost always does, Israel commits murder first, then trumps

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  Is the region paying a heavy price for Trump’s personal interests?

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  President Donald Trump’s administration has been accused of waging war against Iran on Israel’s behalf. Israel had made no secret of its determination to draw the United States into such a confrontation, having failed to persuade previous US administrations to do so. Since then, countries across the region have borne the consequences of the war’s repercussions and of Trump’s decisions relating to it, whether in their regional relations, the broader regional security environment, or even the internal security and stability of some states. The equation surrounding the war against Iran appears even more complex when viewed through the prism of Trump’s character. Coming from the world of business and finance, he is far more adept at striking deals and maximising

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  US approves potential $1.96 billion sale of precision-guided weapons to Saudi Arabia

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  The US State Department has approved a potential sale of precision-guided rocket systems and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, with an estimated value of $1.96 billion. In a statement, the department said it had approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of advanced weapon systems and associated equipment, with a total estimated cost of $1.96 billion. It said Saudi Arabia had requested to buy up to 10,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS-II) air-to-air guidance sections; and up 10,000 APKWS-II air-to-ground guidance sections. The State Department said the proposed sale would also include non-major defines equipment items will also be included: LAU-131 A/A launchers; Mk-152 high explosive warheads; MK66 rocket motors; proximity fuses; WTU-1/B practice warheads; inert MK66

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  US Vice President Vance says Epstein had links to ‘top levels’ of Mossad

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance said on Wednesday that convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had “clear connections to the highest levels of Mossad”. Speaking on The Joe Rogan Experience podcast, Vance said Epstein had extensive connections “whether it was Mossad, the CIA, or some other deep state, whether in America, Israel, another country, or both”. Vance rejected suggestions that US President Donald Trump had been blackmailed over the Epstein files. “The idea that Donald Trump was being blackmailed seems crazy to me,” he said. “The idea that he would pick up the phone and say, ‘I’ll take orders from you’ – no, that’s not how Donald Trump operates.” Vance added: “If people want to say we mishandled the Epstein release,

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  ICC warns of potential repeat of Darfur atrocities in Sudan’s El Obeid

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  The International Criminal Court (ICC) warned on Wednesday of the risk of a repeat of the atrocities committed in Sudan’s Darfur region two decades ago, this time in the central city of El Obeid. ICC Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said the “most serious international crimes” potentially imminent in El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan State in southern Sudan. She made the warning during her six-month briefing to the UN Security Council on the court’s work related to the situation in Darfur, which the council referred to the ICC in 2005, according to the United Nations. In 2003, the armed Sudan Liberation Movement and Justice and Equality Movement launched a rebellion against Sudan’s government, accusing it of marginalising the

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  Sudanese authorities say RSF targeted power station in Northern State

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) targeted the electricity substation in the city of Al Dabbah in Sudan’s Northern State, Sudanese authorities said on Wednesday. Al Dabbah Security Committee said in a statement that the city’s electricity substation had been targeted by the rebel RSF militia, causing a fire at the facility. One security guard suffered minor injuries and was taken to hospital for treatment. The statement said the attack was “systematic” and aimed at civilian infrastructure and essential services used by ordinary people in their daily lives. It added that such “criminal acts by the rebel militia will not deter us from carrying out our duty to defend this land and its people. Rather, they will make us stronger

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  Israeli security assessment: Hamas retains most of its military strength despite war

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  The armed wing of Hamas still has around 25,000 fighters despite more than two years of war in the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli security assessments reported by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan on Wednesday. The report said the Israeli security establishment estimates that about 2,500 of those fighters belong to Hamas’s elite, Nukhba, unit. Before the war began, Hamas’s armed wing was estimated to have around 35,000 fighters, including about 5,000 members of the elite unit, according to the report. The Israeli assessment therefore suggests that the group has retained a large part of its military strength. The report also said Israeli security agencies have recently observed an increase in what they described as executions carried out by Hamas against

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  Iran criticises Oman over announcement of southern shipping corridor in the Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  Iran has criticised Oman following Muscat’s announcement of a southern navigation corridor through the Strait of Hormuz, accusing it of failing to coordinate with Tehran on arrangements for maritime transit. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference that Tehran had sought to establish, in coordination with Oman, a mechanism to ensure the safe passage of ships through the strategic waterway. “Our efforts were based on reaching, in coordination with Oman, a mechanism to ensure the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz,” Baghaei said, adding that Iran regretted that such an arrangement had not been achieved and alleging that US pressure had influenced Oman’s position. Baghaei said Iran had expected “the necessary cooperation” from

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  Iran says it has no plans for negotiations and will continue responding to US strikes

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  Iran has no plans to resume negotiations with the United States at this time and remains focused on defending the country, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said on Wednesday. Speaking to Iranian media on the sidelines of a memorial service in Tehran, Baghaei said, “Iran currently has no plans to negotiate, and its focus is on defending the country.” He added that Iran would not adhere to any agreement if the United States failed to uphold its own commitments. “This is a firm principle, and Iran will continue to adhere to it,” Baghaei said. He also accused the United States of violating the ceasefire agreement from the time it entered into force, alleging that Washington had not complied with

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  Israeli soldier sentenced to five years in prison for sharing videos with alleged Iranian agent

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  The Israeli military announced on Wednesday that one of its soldiers has been sentenced to five years in prison after being convicted of sending videos to an individual Israeli authorities identified as an Iranian agent. According to the Israeli military, the soldier transmitted two videos in June 2025, during the 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, showing missile interceptions. The military said the soldier received payment for one of the videos. The statement added that the soldier also sent additional videos filmed in civilian areas, including footage of a missile strike that, according to the military, had been obtained from online sources. The military said the soldier later informed an officer in his unit that he had been in contact

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  Jordanian senate committee condemns raid on Dar al-Aytam School, calls for international accountability

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  The Palestine Committee of the Jordanian Senate has condemned a visit by Israeli Knesset member Zvi Sukkot to the Dar al-Aytam Islamic Secondary School in the Old City of occupied East Jerusalem, calling for international accountability over the incident. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the committee said Sukkot entered the school, damaged school property, removed a sign displaying a map of historical Palestine and the Palestinian flag, and threw an Islamic education textbook onto the ground. The committee described the incident as reflecting “the extremist mentality that governs the Israeli occupation.” According to the statement, the committee said the incident was not an isolated act but part of what it described as a broader policy targeting Palestinian educational, religious,

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  Netanyahu seeks extended security protection for his family beyond potential end of premiership

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to extend the security protection provided to his family beyond his time in office, according to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. The newspaper reported that Netanyahu’s associates have been urging Israeli security and intelligence bodies to support a proposal that would allow the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) to continue providing security protection to his family for an additional five years if he leaves office following the 27th October elections. According to the report, Sara Netanyahu has also requested that her husband receive lifetime security protection, rather than the 20-year period currently provided under existing arrangements. The newspaper said the proposal has prompted disagreements within the relevant government institutions.

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  Sitting ducks: Why the US security umbrella no longer protects the Gulf?

  by Marwa A on July 16, 2026

  In Kuwait alone—less than 150 kilometres across the Gulf from Iran—the United States maintains a major military hub of approximately 13,500 personnel spread across installations such as Camp Arifjan and Ali Al Salem Air Base. To its south, Saudi Arabia hosts roughly 2,700 U.S. troops, centered at Prince Sultan Air Base in Al Kharj. Elsewhere in the Gulf, every state hosts either a US military presence or provides access and defence cooperation under bilateral agreements: Qatar houses more than 10,000 personnel at CENTCOM’s sprawling forward headquarters at Al Udeid; Bahrain hosts around 9,000 personnel at the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet; the UAE accommodates approximately 3,500 personnel at Al Dhafra while providing deep-water naval access at Jebel Ali; and

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  Iran says 35 civilians killed in recent US attacks on south

  by Marwa A on July 15, 2026

  At least 35 civilians have been killed and over 300 others injured in recent US attacks on southern Iran, the Iranian Health Ministry said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Ministry spokesman Hossein Kermanpour said on the US social media company X that the attacks left 35 people dead and injured more than 300 others, including women and children. He added that the provinces of Hormozgan, Sistan and Baluchestan, and Khuzestan were the hardest hit by the attacks. Separately, US strikes targeted three locations in the southwestern Iranian city of Bushehr on Wednesday morning, with no injuries reported, the province’s governor said, according to Fars News Agency. On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said strikes on Iran would continue and intensify in the

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  Morocco signs agreement with Board of Peace to join Gaza international force

  by Marwa A on July 15, 2026

  Morocco signed an agreement on Wednesday to participate in the International Stabilisation Force (ISF) in the Gaza Strip by deploying senior officers to the ISF joint command, the military said, Anadolu reports. The agreement was signed following a meeting in Rabat between Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Defence Minister Abdellatif Loudiyi and the Board of Peace’s lead envoy for Gaza, Nikolay Mladenov, the Royal Armed Forces said in a statement. The meeting was held upon the instructions of King Mohammed VI, the statement added. The military said the agreement provides the legal framework governing the technical and operational aspects of Morocco’s participation in the multinational force and “reflects a shared commitment to contributing to peace and security through humanitarian and security