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

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  Israeli foreign minister slams Ben-Gvir over mistreatment of flotilla activists

  by Marwa A on May 21, 2026

  Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar publicly criticised National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir over videos showing the mistreatment of activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, accusing him of deliberately damaging Israel’s international image. In a post on X responding to footage filmed in Ashdod, Sa’ar wrote: “You have deliberately damaged the state with this shameful display, and this is not the first time.” He added that Ben-Gvir had undermined the efforts of Israeli soldiers, diplomats and state employees, stating: “No, you are not the face of Israel.” The controversy followed the circulation of videos showing Ben-Gvir and security personnel confronting detained flotilla activists after one participant shouted “Free Palestine.” The footage showed activists being humiliated and forcibly restrained while under Israeli

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  Iran threatens permit system for internet cables crossing Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on May 21, 2026

  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards on Monday threatened to place internet fibre-optic cables passing through the Strait of Hormuz under a “permit system”, in a move seen as part of Tehran’s efforts to tighten control over one of the world’s most important routes for energy, trade and communications. Among the main cables crossing the Strait is a branch of the AAE-1 (Asia-Africa-Europe 1) cable, a major submarine cable system linking Asia and Europe through the Middle East, connecting points from Hong Kong to France via Egypt. The Falcon and Gulf Bridge cables also pass through the Strait, linking Gulf countries, including Iran, with India and East Africa, extending to Egypt. “These cables carry all types of data, from videos, emails and social

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  Iranian parliament speaker warns of “strong response” to any new US attack

  by Marwa A on May 21, 2026

  Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Wednesday that the United States is seeking to launch a new war and force Iran into surrender, following renewed threats by US President Donald Trump to carry out military strikes if no agreement is reached. Ghalibaf warned that Tehran is preparing a “strong response” to any future attack similar to the strikes launched by the United States and Israel during the war that began on 28 February. In an audio message carried by Iranian media, Ghalibaf said: “The enemy’s actions, both overt and covert, show that despite economic and political pressure, it has not abandoned its military objectives and is seeking to start a new war.” He added that close monitoring of

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  France and Italy protest after video of Freedom Flotilla activists in Israeli custody circulates

  by Marwa A on May 21, 2026

  France and Italy summoned Israeli ambassadors on Wednesday after videos circulated showing activists from the Freedom Flotilla Coalition being mistreated while detained by Israeli authorities. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni described the scenes involving handcuffed activists forced to kneel and mistreated by Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as “unacceptable,” particularly because several detainees were Italian citizens. “It is unacceptable that these demonstrators should be subjected to treatment that violates human dignity,” Meloni said in a social media statement. In Paris, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said he would convey France’s “outrage” to the Israeli ambassador and demand explanations regarding the footage. Barrot stressed that the safety of French nationals remained a priority and called for the detained activists to

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  US lifts sanctions on Francesca Albanese, UN expert on Palestinians following court order

  by Marwa A on May 21, 2026

  The United States on Wednesday lifted sanctions imposed on UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, Francesca Albanese, a sharp critic of Israel, following a court order. A notice on the US Treasury Department website showed that sanctions against Albanese had been removed after she was previously placed on a global blacklist, which made it impossible for her to use major credit cards or carry out banking transactions. Washington imposed sanctions on Albanese in July 2025 after she made statements criticising US policy towards the Gaza Strip. Albanese, who took up her post in 2022, has said that Israel committed “genocide in Gaza”. Last week, US District Judge Richard Leon suspended the US sanctions against Albanese.

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  Maps of a vanished world: The myth of containing Iran

  by Marwa A on May 21, 2026

  Despite decades of maximum pressure, crippling sanctions, and diplomatic isolation, the geopolitical reality of the Middle East suggests a profound paradox: the more the West and its regional allies speak of “containing” Iran, the more central Tehran becomes to the regional order. From the Levant to the Gulf of Aden, the Islamic Republic has moved beyond being a mere “disruptor” to becoming a structural pillar of the Middle East’s political and security landscape. The Western-led strategy of containment has largely operated on the assumption that Iran could be boxed in until it either capitulated or collapsed. However, this approach has failed to account for Tehran’s “strategic depth”—a sophisticated blend of asymmetric alliances, ideological soft power, and a resilient, albeit battered,

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  Hormuz closure could trigger global food price crisis within a year, UN agency warns

  by Marwa A on May 20, 2026

  The closure of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a severe global food price crisis within six to 12 months, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned on Wednesday, calling the disruption “the beginning of a systemic agrifood shock,” Anadolu reports. The Rome-based agency said the disruption is no longer only a shipping or energy-market problem, warning that the shock is moving through global agrifood systems in stages. “The shock is unfolding in stages: energy, fertiliser, seeds, lower yields, commodity price increases, then food inflation,” the FAO said in a podcast titled Policy Recommendations to Prevent a Global Food Crisis | Hormuz Crisis 2026, published Wednesday. The FAO said the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed since Feb.

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  Spain summons Israeli charge d’affaires for ‘monstrous’ treatment of Gaza flotilla activists

  by Marwa A on May 20, 2026

  Spain summoned Israel’s charge d’affaires on Wednesday after Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares condemned what he described as the “monstrous,” “inhumane” and “disgraceful” treatment of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla, Anadolu reports. In a video message shared on the US social media platform X, Albares said: “I have seen a horrific, inhumane and disgraceful video in which members of the flotilla were treated unjustly and humiliatingly by an Israeli minister and the police.” Among them, he noted, were Spanish citizens on the flotilla, calling the incident “deeply alarming.” “I repeat, this treatment is monstrous, it is disgraceful, it is inhumane,” Albares added, demanding “a public apology from Israel.” The Spanish minister said Madrid had urgently summoned the Israeli charge d’affaires

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  Canada demands Israel ensure ‘safety and security of Canadians’ on Gaza-bound flotilla

  by Marwa A on May 20, 2026

  Prime Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday denounced Israel’s “abominable” treatment of activists aboard a Gaza-bound flotilla, demanding that Tel Aviv ensure the “safety and security” of Canadians, Anadolu reports. “The abominable treatment of civilians aboard the flotilla, including that which is documented in footage shared by (Israeli National Security Minister) Itamar Ben-Gvir, is unacceptable,” Carney wrote on the US social media platform X. Noting that the Canadian Foreign Ministry has summoned Israel’s ambassador to Ottawa, Carney said it demanded “assurances regarding the safety and security of Canadians involved.” “Canada has already imposed strict sanctions on Mr. Ben-Gvir, including asset freezes and a travel ban, in response to his repeated incitement of violence,” he said. “The protection of civilians and respect

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  Poland demands ‘justice’ for its citizens after Israeli treatment of Gaza flotilla members, calls for consequences

  by Marwa A on May 20, 2026

  Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski on Wednesday demanded “justice” for Polish citizens after footage was circulated by Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir showing Israel’s treatment of activists detained after attempting to reach the Gaza Strip by sea, Anadolu reports. “You may not treat Polish citizens who have committed no crime in this way,” Sikorski said in a post on the US social media company X. “In the democratic world we do not abuse and gloat over people in custody,” he added. “We demand justice for our citizens and consequences for you,” Sikorski said. The remarks came after a video posted by Ben-Gvir showed detained activists zip-tied and forced to kneel after being detained by Israeli forces in international waters.

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  UN chief strongly condemns Israel’s decision to set up army base on UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on May 20, 2026

  UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday strongly condemned Israel’s decision to establish military facilities at a UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) compound in occupied East Jerusalem, calling it “wholly unacceptable,” Anadolu reports. “The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli authorities’ decision to establish military facilities at the UNRWA Sheikh Jarrah compound in East Jerusalem that they had seized in January,” his spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Stressing that UNRWA is “an integral part of the United Nations,” the statement noted that the Sheikh Jarrah compound “remains United Nations premises,” adding that the measures constitute “a breach of the inviolability of United Nations premises” and undermine the agency’s mandate in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East

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  Debunking The Founding Myths of Israel | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  In this week’s episode, we take on some of the most persistent myths used to justify Zionism, erase Palestinian dispossession and rewrite the history of the Nakba. We begin with the claim that Arab conquest expelled Jews over the centuries, before examining how this distorted reading of history is used to present Zionism as a “return of Jews to their ancestral homeland” rather than a colonial project. We then turn to the Nakba, challenging claims that Israel was founded on legally purchased land, that the 1948 war was a war of annihilation against Israel and that Palestinians left because Arab leaders told them to evacuate. The episode also unpacks the accusation that Palestinians want to “push Jews into the sea”,

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  Sovereignty, Palestine, and Power Vacuum: The Urgent Need for a United Arab Initiative

  by Marwa A on May 20, 2026

  US President Donald Trum’’s state visit to China will go down in history as the day the United States finally acknowledged Beijing’s ascendancy as a global superpower. That acknowledgment does not need to be articulated in a formal statement; it can be clearly read in the subtext of diplomatic behavior, global perception, and shifting media coverage. During the summit, Trump’s delegation—accompanied by prominent American corporate leaders—engaged with President Xi Jinping not from a position of absolute global dictation, but through a lens of defensive pragmatism. This transactional approach focused on securing bilateral trade commitments and preventing catastrophic economic friction. The spectacle of the leader of the Western world navigating Beijing’s terms, while actively managing domestic economic anxieties, signals a profound

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  Italy summons Israeli ambassador after Ben-Gvir filmed taunting Gaza flotilla detainees

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Italy has summoned Israel’s ambassador and demanded an apology after far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir was filmed mocking detained Gaza flotilla activists, including Italian citizens, who had been handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to kneel. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani issued a joint statement condemning the images as “unacceptable” and saying the treatment of the demonstrators violated human dignity. The Italian government said it was acting “at the highest institutional levels” to secure the immediate release of the Italian citizens involved. READ: LIVE UPDATES: 87 Gaza-bound aid flotilla activists launch hunger strike over Israeli detention “The images of Israeli Minister Ben Gvir are unacceptable,” the statement said. “It is inadmissible that these demonstrators, including

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  CAAP slams Israel participation in inter-American forum

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  The Caribbean Against Apartheid in Palestine (CAAP) has today condemned plans to allow an Israeli delegation to attend an Inter-American Development Bank investment forum in Barbados from 26th May to 28th.   A statement from the organisation said: “CAAP registers its utter abhorrence and disapproval of persons from the Zionist State of Israel being given permission to enter Barbados, to participate in events on our soil and conduct business here.”   Attorney Lalu Hanuman, CAAP’s Secretary said: “During apartheid in South Africa, persons aligned to that State would never have been allowed entry to Barbados. It is deplorable that persons associated with the Zionist apartheid state of Israel, whose leaders are subject to pending warrants of arrest issued by the International Criminal

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  India’s Gulf Gamble in a Fragmenting Middle East

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation diplomatic tour across the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from May 15-20, 2026 reflects India’s broader effort to establish itself as a consequential actor in an increasingly fragmented multipolar order. As geopolitical rivalries intensify, supply chains reorganize, and energy markets remain volatile, New Delhi is pursuing partnerships capable of supporting both economic modernization and strategic autonomy. India’s outreach to Europe and the Gulf is driven largely by economic and technological considerations. Access to semiconductor ecosystems, renewable energy cooperation, logistics infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and foreign investment has become central to India’s long-term development strategy. Negotiations surrounding the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement illustrate New Delhi’s attempt

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  Pro-Palestinian activists hold protest at Belgian university rectorate, demand full Israeli academic boycott

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian activists staged a protest at Ghent University’s (UGent) rectorate building in Belgium on Wednesday, calling for a full academic boycott of Israel, Belga News Agency reported. The activists said the university’s recent decision to phase out five research collaborations with Israeli partners was insufficient and called for all ties to be severed. “Not just 5, cut all ties,” read one of the slogans sprayed on the building, referring to the university’s decision to end five Horizon research projects it deemed problematic. The Ghent University said it continues to maintain a limited number of collaborations with partners it does not consider involved in serious human rights violations. READ: Belgian university to withdraw from 5 EU education projects involving Israeli partners It

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  Israel’s High Court gives aid groups 30 days to submit employee lists or cease operations

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Israel’s High Court has rejected a petition filed by international aid organizations operating in Palestine and gave them one month to submit employee lists to the government or cease operations, according to an Israeli government statement on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. The government said the petition was filed by AIDA, an umbrella group representing 19 international nongovernmental relief organizations working in the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank. According to the statement, the petition came after the organizations refused to provide Israel with lists of their local employees “as required under NGO registration and security screening procedures.” Dozens of international aid groups have opposed new Israeli requirements that include submitting names of local staff members, identifying aid beneficiaries, and refraining from

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  Trump, Netanyahu hold ‘lengthy, dramatic’ call as decision on Iran nears: Israeli media

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a “lengthy and dramatic” phone call overnight, their second contact in just a few days, Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Wednesday. No details were provided about the content of the discussions, but the channel characterized the talks as “lengthy and dramatic.” The broadcaster said the call came as the two leaders appeared to be “on the verge of a decision” regarding the Iran war. Neither the White House nor Netanyahu’s office issued a statement about the call. On Sunday, Netanyahu and Trump spoke in a call that lasted more than 30 minutes and focused on “the possibility of renewing fighting in Iran,” according to Israeli media. READ: Iran warns renewed

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  Jewish groups launch new diaspora movement rejecting Israel’s ethno-nationalism

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  A new coalition of Jewish organisations has launched under the banner of the Jewish Diaspora Movement (JDM), seeking to advance a vision of Jewish life rooted outside the framework of Israeli state power and in explicit rejection of ethno-nationalism. The movement, launched on 18 May, brings together dozens of synagogues, prayer communities, cultural organisations and activist groups, mostly in North America, including Jewish Voice for Peace, Rabbis for Ceasefire, IfNotNow, Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and the American Council for Judaism. Its official website says the coalition now includes 46 member organisations in its “founding minyan”. The JDM describes itself as “a participatory network advancing an ethical future for Jews, Jewishness, and Judaism” rooted in diasporic traditions, solidarity and

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  Palestinian ministry condemns illumination of Ibrahimi Mosque in Israeli flag colors

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  The Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs on Wednesday condemned the illumination of the walls of the Ibrahimi Mosque with the Israeli flag colors and Hebrew phrases, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry called it “a blatant assault” on the sanctity of the mosque located in the West Bank city of Hebron. The mosque is “a purely Islamic endowment in which non-Muslims have no right,” it added. “Israeli measures inside the mosque are invalid and illegal, and are a dangerous attempt to alter its historical features and impose a new Judaization reality by force of arms,” the ministry added. It called on the international community and rights groups to urgently intervene to stop violations against Islamic holy sites. It

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  The Gulf Cooperation Council is shooting itself in the foot

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  The most accurate portrayal of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is perhaps the 2017 Kuwait summit, which was held at the height of the Saudi-UAE-Bahraini blockade of Qatar and was attended by none of the quarrelling states’ leaders — except for Qatar’s Emir, Tamim bin Hamad. Kuwait’s late Emir, Sabah Al-Ahmad, found himself effectively addressing a single guest at what was supposed to be a ‘Gulf’ summit. This unintentionally declared that the GCC shines socially, but fractures politically. This fracture is not new. The GCC was formed in 1981 as an urgent security response, one year after the Iran–Iraq War erupted, rather than as a mature political project. Iraq was excluded on the pretext of its republican system, despite being

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  Sheikh Ekrima Sabri denies “terrorism” charges in Israeli court

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Sheikh Ekrima Sabri, head of the Higher Islamic Council and preacher of Al-Aqsa Mosque, said his defence team had presented a “logical argument” during the latest court session examining the indictment against him, stressing that the speech cited in the case was “legitimate religious speech protected by law”. Speaking to reporters after the hearing, Sabri said the defence had relied on “a successful argument from a religious perspective”, adding that the religious expressions used in his sermons and public positions were “legally permitted”. According to the case file, the charges relate to condolences delivered by Sabri at mourning gatherings in Jerusalem and Jenin refugee camp, as well as his prayer for former Hamas political bureau chief Ismail Haniyeh during a

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  Israeli occupiers establish new illegal settlement outpost in West Bank’s Hebron

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Israeli occupiers began establishing an illegal settlement outpost in a village in the Masafer Yatta region of Hebron governorate in the southern occupied West Bank under the protection of the army, a Palestinian official said Wednesday. Khalil Hathaleen, head of the Umm al-Khair village council, told Anadolu that occupiers had “started building a new settlement neighborhood in the middle of the village by installing caravans, erecting fences, and paving roads.” Hathaleen explained that the new outpost cuts Umm al-Khair into two sections and blocks roads used by students and residents. He said Umm al-Khair “has been subjected to a fierce and ongoing campaign by occupiers,” adding that construction of the settlement neighborhood has accelerated since midnight with the aim of

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  Israel says Gaza aid flotilla attempt over; 430 activists transferred to its territory

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Israel’s Foreign Ministry said late on Tuesday that the latest international flotilla heading to Gaza to deliver aid “has come to an end”, and that 430 activists aboard its ships were being transferred to Israel. The ministry said on X: “Another PR flotilla,” describing it as a publicity campaign, “has come to an end. All 430 activists have been transferred to Israeli vessels and are making their way to Israel, where they will be able to meet with their consular representatives.” It added: “This flotilla has once again proved to be nothing more than a PR stunt at the service of Hamas.” The ministry said Israel “will continue to act in full accordance with international law and will not permit

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  South Korea president urges review of ICC warrant for Netanyahu: Report

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that Seoul should consider the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while strongly condemning the Israeli military’s seizure of a Gaza-bound aid vessel carrying South Korean activists, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Lee questioned the legal basis for intercepting the Global Sumud Flotilla, asking whether the vessel had entered Israeli territorial waters or violated any recognized boundary, according to The Chosun Daily. “Almost all European countries have issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and announced plans to arrest him if he enters their territories. We should also consider this,” he said. “There are minimum international norms, and Israel is violating them all. They must adhere to principles;

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  Iran warns renewed attack by US and Israel could expand conflict beyond region

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned on Wednesday that any renewed attack by the US and Israel could trigger a broader conflict extending beyond the region. In a statement carried by Tasnim news agency, the IRGC said the US and Israel had failed to learn from what it described as repeated strategic defeats against Iran. The force claimed that despite attacks carried out using “the full capabilities of the world’s two most expensive armies,” Iran had not yet used all of its capabilities against its adversaries. “If aggression against Iran is repeated, the regional war that had been promised will this time spread beyond the region,” the statement said. The IRGC also warned of “crushing blows” in places “you cannot

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  As Trump met Xi, China was already sailing under Iran’s rules

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Just before Donald Trump sat down with Xi Jinping in Beijing, Iranian news outlets reported a significant development in the Strait of Hormuz: Chinese vessels had begun transiting the waterway under Iran’s newly enforced management protocol. This was not a routine passage. The ships were operating in full coordination with Iranian authorities, providing pre-arrival information, complying with safety and environmental requirements, and paying administrative fees for upkeep and oversight. The move marks a quiet but important victory for Tehran in asserting its legal and practical authority over one of the world’s most critical energy chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz remains the single most important oil transit route on the planet. Roughly one-fifth of global crude oil passes through its narrow

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  Global Sumud Flotilla activists begin hunger strike to protest their abduction by Israel

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  At least 87 activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla began a hunger strike on Tuesday in protest against what they described as their abduction by Israel and in solidarity with more than 9,500 Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails. In a post on X, the flotilla said that, for the second time in three weeks, the Israeli army — which it said claims to be “the most moral army” — had abducted their comrades from international waters. It added: “In protest of their illegal abduction and in solidarity with the over 9,500 Palestinian hostages held in Israeli dungeons, at least 87 flotilla participants have committed to a hunger strike until they are released.” The Global Sumud Flotilla called for the release

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  Indonesia must respond more forcefully to Israel’s detention of its journalists at sea

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Indonesia has condemned Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. Officials have demanded access to detained Indonesians and called for their release. That response is necessary. But it is not remotely sufficient for the gravity of what has happened. Nine Indonesians — including journalists from major national media outlets — were detained after Israeli forces intercepted civilian vessels attempting to reach Gaza. According to organizers and international media reports, the flotilla was operating in international waters when Israeli forces boarded the ships and detained activists from multiple countries.  Indonesia should treat this not as a routine diplomatic inconvenience, but as a direct challenge to its credibility, its sovereignty and its long-declared commitment to Palestine. Because what happened was not isolated.

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  US imposes sanctions on aid flotilla activists, some based in Europe

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  The United States on Tuesday placed several individuals linked to the Global Sumud Flotilla on its sanctions blacklist. The flotilla aims to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians, with some of the targeted individuals based in Europe. In a statement, the US State Department said “Today’s designations target three categories of Hamas enablers: organizers of a Hamas-backed flotilla attempting to reach Gaza; operatives within Hamas-aligned Muslim Brotherhood networks that facilitate violent terrorist attacks; and coordinators of Samidoun, a front organization for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).”   Among those sanctioned were several activists living in European countries, including Spain and Belgium. The sanctions list included Mohammed Al-Khatib, the European coordinator for the

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  US claims bombed Iranian girls’ school was inside active missile site

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), told Congress on Tuesday that the US military’s investigation into the bombing of a girls’ school in Iran was “complex” because the school was located inside an active Iranian cruise missile launch site.  In March, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urged the forces behind the deadly attack on the girls’ school in Iran to investigate the incident and provide information about it, without saying who it believed was responsible.  Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN human rights office, told a press conference in Geneva: “The High Commissioner (Volker Turk) calls for a prompt, impartial ​and thorough investigation into the circumstances of the ⁠attack.

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  Smotrich announces retaliatory measures against Palestinian Authority after ICC developments

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced a series of measures targeting the Palestinian Authority after revealing that the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court had allegedly submitted a request for a secret international arrest warrant against him. During a press conference on Tuesday, Smotrich described the move as a “declaration of war” and linked it to what he characterised as efforts by the Palestinian Authority to pursue Israeli officials through international legal institutions. Smotrich said the alleged request followed earlier arrest warrants issued against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former defence minister Yoav Gallant. READ: Israeli finance minister says ICC arrest warrant issued for him Rejecting the legitimacy of the ICC proceedings, Smotrich accused the Palestinian Authority of being behind

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  Israeli forces burn several homes in Jenin refugee camp

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Israeli forces on Tuesday evening burned several homes in the Jenin refugee camp in the northern occupied West Bank. Local sources said Israeli forces set fire to a house in the Tal’at al-Ghabr area and another belonging to the Al-Rashid family. The sources said the Israeli army had been using the homes as military barracks for more than a year and a half. The sources added that Israeli forces also burned another house in the camp later in the evening, although its ownership was not immediately known. The Israeli army launched a large-scale military operation in the city of Jenin and its refugee camp on 21st January 2025, displacing all residents of the camp and surrounding areas, estimated at around

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  Iranian source claims Israel carried out drone attack on UAE

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  An informed military source told Tasnim News Agency that the recent drone attack targeting the United Arab Emirates was carried out by Israel rather than Iran. According to the source, Israel is allegedly attempting to provoke the UAE into taking a more hostile regional stance against Iran and other countries in the Islamic world. The source claimed that while Iran has acknowledged carrying out some retaliatory measures against the UAE during the regional confrontation, certain attacks attributed to Tehran were in fact conducted by Israel. READ: UAE says Iran targeted ADNOC tanker with drones in Strait of Hormuz The Iranian source also stated that Tehran does not seek hostility with neighbouring countries and believes regional states should cooperate to secure the

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  UAE says drones targeting Barakah nuclear plant were launched from Iraqi territory

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  The UAE Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday that the drones involved in the recent attack targeting the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant were launched from Iraq. According to the ministry, the incident likely involved armed groups operating from Iraqi territory, amid accusations that Iranian-backed militias have repeatedly carried out drone attacks against Gulf states since the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran on 28th  February. Emirati officials said the attack struck a power generator near the Barakah facility but caused no injuries or radiation leaks. The UAE has recently accused Iran of continuing drone and missile attacks despite the ceasefire that took effect in April. READ: UAE says it needs no protection from outside, vows to defend sovereignty Regional tensions

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  Government Media Office warns of sharp decline in aid entering Gaza

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  The Government Media Office in Gaza warned on Tuesday of what it described as a dangerous decline in humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip due to the siege and restrictions imposed by Israel. Office director Ismail al-Thawabta said that since the ceasefire agreement came into force, only 48,636 aid trucks had entered Gaza out of the 131,400 trucks that were expected under the agreement, representing what he described as a compliance rate of 37 percent. According to al-Thawabta, more than 63 percent of Gaza’s basic humanitarian needs have therefore not been met. He added that between the beginning of May and 18th May 2026, only 2,719 trucks entered the territory out of 10,800 scheduled trucks, which he said represented a

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  Hamas rejects Peace Council report on Gaza ceasefire implementation

  by MI on May 20, 2026

  Hamas rejected a report submitted to the United Nations Security Council by the so-called “Peace Council” concerning implementation of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, accusing the report of distorting facts and adopting Israeli conditions. In a statement, Hamas said the report absolves Israel of responsibility for daily violations of the ceasefire while placing blame on Hamas for delays in reconstruction. The movement argued that Israel continues imposing severe restrictions on crossings and preventing the entry of shelter materials and infrastructure repair equipment needed for reconstruction efforts. Hamas said it is “not the obstacle” to rebuilding Gaza and described accusations against it as false because they ignore Israel’s failure to fulfil most of its obligations during the first phase

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  US lawmakers press CENTCOM chief on deadly Iran school strike

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  The top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee pressed the CENTCOM chief on Tuesday for answers about a strike that killed more than 150 girls at an Iranian school on Feb. 28, Anadolu reports. During a US House committee hearing on US posture in the “Greater Middle East and Africa” Rep. Adam Smith urged Adm. Brad Cooper to acknowledge US responsibility for the strike on the school, which Iranian officials say killed 175 people, including more than 150 schoolgirls. “It’s really pretty clear what happened there,” Smith said, noting that in previous incidents the US military has moved quickly to acknowledge mistakes even while investigations were still ongoing. “Can you, at this moment, acknowledge that that mistake was made,

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  Trump says he was hour from resuming Iran strikes before postponing offensive Monday

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would have resumed strikes on Iran within an hour had he not postponed them earlier in the week at the request of regional allies, as Tehran revealed details of a new proposal to end the war launched by Washington and Israel in February, Anadolu reports. “They knew that we were very close. I would say that I was an hour away from making the decision to go today,” Trump told reporters at the White House. He said the US may deal Iran “another big hit” if the sides fail to reach a permanent agreement in the coming days. “They’re begging to make a deal. I hope we don’t have to do the

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  Israel targets farmers with phosphorus shells in southern Lebanon

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  The Israeli army targeted farmers in southern Lebanon’s Tyre district with phosphorus shells on Tuesday, while detaining three civilians and wounding another person, according to Lebanese media reports. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli forces fired three phosphorus shells near farmers harvesting watermelons in fields near the Mansouri junction in Tyre district. The farmers fled the area immediately after the shelling and no injuries were reported, the agency said. Israeli aircraft also struck the towns of Hanawieh and Maarka in Tyre district, according to NNA. In the same district, the Islamic Health Committee said it recovered the body of a civilian from beneath the rubble of a house in the town of Qana that was hit by Israeli

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  UK foreign secretary warns world is ‘sleepwalking’ into food crisis over Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  The world risks “sleepwalking into a global food crisis” and the global economy is being “held hostage” because Iran has “hijacked an international shipping lane,” UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said on Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the Global Partnerships Conference in London, Cooper said daily shipping traffic through the crucial waterway has plummeted from 90 ships a day to just five over the last three months, leaving 20,000 seafarers and 800 ships “just stuck.” She warned that the blockage of heating oil, gas, and fertilizer is devastating the Global South and threatening the agricultural calendar. Citing World Food Program data, she stated that 45 million people are at risk of acute hunger this year. “The world risks sleepwalking into

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  Qatar backs US-Iran talks, calls for reopening of Hormuz Strait

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  Qatar expressed on Tuesday its support for the Pakistan-mediated diplomatic talks between the US and Iran, and called for reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, Anadolu reports. Doha “supports the Islamabad negotiations aimed at reaching a solution between Washington and Tehran,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari told a news conference. He said two Qatari gas tankers crossed the Strait of Hormuz on May 10 and 11 en route to Port Qasim in Pakistan through contacts with the Pakistani side and as part of regional coordination efforts aimed at reopening the waterway to navigation. However, this “does not mean navigation has returned to normal or that the strait has been reopened,” he added. READ: US says 88 commercial vessels redirected

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  Palestinian Forum honours ‘Nakba witnesses’ in Britain, supported by Corbyn

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  In a first-of-its-kind event in the UK, drawing attention to the vital importance of documenting historical narratives and honoring those who lived through them, the Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) held a prestigious ceremony on Monday evening, May 18, in West London. The ceremony was organized to honor a number of Nakba witnesses who survived the 1948 massacres committed by occupation gangs. The event was held under the auspices of MP Jeremy Corbyn, the former leader of the Labour Party and the parliamentary leader of “Your Party”. Massive Political and Solidarity Turnout The event witnessed an outstanding turnout of political figures and activists. Leading the attendees were Independent MPs Ayoub Khan and Iqbal Mohamed, alongside several Green Party representatives from

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  Israeli police bar foreign journalists critical of Israel: Report

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  Israeli police monitor foreign journalists who criticize Israel and recommend barring them from entering the country, Israeli daily Haaretz said Tuesday. “Israeli police monitor articles by foreign journalists and recommend denying entry to reporters critical of Israel,” the paper said, citing documents. Haaretz said one of the documents it obtained included a review of articles by Italian journalist Alessandro Stefanelli, who was denied entry to Israel last July. The review was carried out by the Israeli police’s Judea and Samaria District unit in charge of nationalist crime, the newspaper said. Stefanelli, a freelance journalist, has published articles in The Atlantic, Libération in France, and La Repubblica and La Stampa in Italy. The Italian journalist contacted the Israeli Embassy but received

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  US says 88 commercial vessels redirected from transiting Strait of Hormuz

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  The US said Tuesday that it has so far redirected 88 commercial vessels and disabled four others to enforce President Donald Trump’s blockade on ships traveling to and from Iranian ports via the Strait of Hormuz. “CENTCOM forces have redirected 88 commercial vessels, and disabled 4 to ensure total compliance,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on US social media platform X. Regional tensions have remained high since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel and US allies in Gulf countries, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement.

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  Syrian soldier killed, others injured in car bombing in Damascus

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  A Syrian soldier was killed and several others were injured Tuesday in an explosion near a Defense Ministry building in Damascus, according to the SANA news agency, Anadolu reports. An army unit discovered an explosive device prepared for detonation near one of the ministry’s buildings in the Bab Sharqi area of Damascus, the media and communications department at the Syrian Defense Ministry told SANA. Forces immediately moved to deal with and dismantle the device before a car bomb exploded in the same area, killing one soldier and wounding several others, the source added. Najib al-Naasan, director of ambulance and emergency services in Damascus, told Alikhbariah TV that the explosion resulted in one death and 12 injuries. No group claimed responsibility

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  Global Sumud Flotilla says Israeli army vessels attacking Gaza aid fleet 2nd time

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  The Global Sumud Flotilla said Tuesday that Israeli military vessels were continuing to attack and board its humanitarian aid fleet in international waters as the convoy headed toward the Gaza Strip, Anadolu Agency reports. “Interception continues. IOF (Israeli army) military vessels are currently illegally boarding our fleet,” the flotilla said in a statement. “We are on high alert as we continue towards Gaza. We refuse to be intimidated.” Organizers also said 10 humanitarian boats had “escaped 22 hours of Israeli attacks in international waters” and were sailing toward Gaza. “The boats are currently just 121 nautical miles from Gaza’s shores,” the statement read. Earlier Tuesday, Israeli news website Walla, citing an unnamed security source, reported that the Israeli army had

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  Israeli army records sharp rise in sexual assault complaints in 2025: Report

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  The Israeli army received 2,420 complaints related to sexual assaults and harassment within its ranks during 2025, marking a significant increase from the previous year, according to data presented to the Knesset on Tuesday. Israel’s Channel 12 said the figures were presented during a meeting of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, which discussed the military’s handling of sexual harassment cases. According to the data, the army’s Yahalom unit received 2,420 reports of sexual assaults within the military during 2025. More than 700 complaints ended only with what were described as “command meetings,” while 42 indictments were filed against suspects and 21 others were subjected only to disciplinary measures, according to the figures. The military also barred 60 civilian

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  Iranian army warns of opening ‘new fronts’ if attacked again

  by MI on May 19, 2026

  Iran on Tuesday warned of opening “new fronts” if the US and Israel launch new strikes on the country. “We will open new fronts against them with new tools and methods” if attacked again, Iran’s army spokesperson said in a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official news agency ISNA. Regional tensions have remained high since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28, prompting retaliatory attacks by Tehran against Israel and US allies in the Gulf, along with the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation, but talks in Islamabad failed to produce a lasting agreement. US President Donald Trump later extended the truce indefinitely while maintaining a blockade