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

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  ‘Israel will have a war with Egypt in 15 years’: Zionist activist warns of future conflict after ‘weakening the Shia’

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  A prominent Zionist activist has predicted that Israel will be at war with Egypt within 15 years, arguing that the country’s next strategic challenge will come from Sunni Muslim powers after the weakening of Iran and its regional allies. Speaking at the Jewish News Syndicate (JNS) International Policy Summit in Jerusalem, Amiad Cohen, chief executive of the Herut Center and a leading figure in Israel’s nationalist camp, warned that Egypt and Turkey pose a long-term threat to Israel and the wider West. “Fifteen years from now, Israel will have a war with Egypt.” Zionist activist Amiad Cohen tells Jewish News Syndicate Summit in Israel that a war with Egypt is on the horizon. pic.twitter.com/ctCsHsCVd7 — Chris Menahan 🇺🇸 (@infolibnews) June

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  Colombia’s Petro alleges Israeli interference in election, demands audit and recount

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Colombian President Gustavo Petro has accused Israel of interfering in Colombia’s presidential election, weeks after French prosecutors opened an investigation into alleged foreign interference targeting pro-Palestine candidates from La France Insoumise in local elections. French authorities suspect the campaign involved BlackCore, an Israeli cyber and influence firm, though they have not identified who commissioned the operation. In the latest case of alleged Israeli interference, Petro has raised serious irregularities in Colombia’s vote-counting process, claiming that changes to electoral server IP addresses indicate that the software may have been compromised. The Colombian president called for a full forensic audit, judicial oversight of the scrutiny process and a nationwide recount, while alleging that Israel was behind the purported interference. The claims emerged

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  Islamabad’s Fragile Bargain: Why Tehran and Washington Need the Truce to Hold

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  When U.S. and Iranian negotiators left Switzerland on June 22, the important result was not a final peace treaty. Mediators said the two sides had made “encouraging progress” toward a 60-day roadmap, established political oversight, and begun further technical talks. That matters. But it does not erase the fact that the path from a ceasefire to a durable settlement remains crowded with unresolved questions: Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, the future of shipping through Hormuz, and the fighting in Lebanon. The Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding should therefore not be read as a clean victory for either Tehran or Washington, much less as proof that both have already won. It is better understood as a provisional mutual exit from a war

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  UK maritime agency reports attempted approach by armed men near Yemen coast

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a commercial tanker reported an encounter with a small boat carrying armed men off the coast of Yemen on Sunday. In a statement, UKMTO said it received a report of an incident approximately 50 nautical miles southeast of Al-Shihr in eastern Yemen. According to the agency, the captain of a product tanker reported that a small craft carrying five armed individuals approached the vessel and appeared to be attempting to board it. The tanker responded by altering its course and carrying out evasive manoeuvres, moving away from the approaching boat. UKMTO said the vessel was able to continue its voyage safely and is proceeding to its next scheduled port of call. No

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  The Swiss summit of imperial humiliation

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  In Switzerland, amid the alpine calm where empires go to perfume panic as diplomacy, Iran delivered another masterclass in the ancient art of refusing to kneel. The Americans arrived with the usual imperial luggage: threats, ultimatums, sanctions theology, and that peculiar Washington habit of mistaking obedience for “peace.” Iran arrived with something far less fashionable and far more effective: leverage. Not the decorative leverage of think-tank seminars and cable-news generals, but the real kind — the kind that closes straits, terrifies markets, freezes war rooms, and forces the self-appointed masters of the universe to rediscover geography. The spectacle would be hilarious if it were not so historically obscene. For decades, Washington imagined Iran could be sanctioned into hunger, bombed into

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  Israeli authorities issue stop-work orders for homes and agricultural structures south of Bethlehem

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Israeli authorities issued stop-work orders on Sunday for a number of homes under construction and agricultural structures in the village of Wadi Rahal, south of Bethlehem, according to local Palestinian sources. The sources said Israeli forces delivered notices affecting eight residential buildings that were under construction, citing the absence of building permits. According to the reports, the affected properties belong to Othman Mahmoud Al-Fawaghra, Samer Da’na, Ismat Sand, Ibrahim Abu Srour, Adnan Abu Srour and Suha Mohammad Salim, while the ownership of two additional structures was not immediately known. The notices also included an order halting work on an extension to an existing home, as well as two agricultural structures belonging to Othman Mahmoud Al-Fawaghra and Samih Abdul Karim Rahal.

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  Trump says Hamas ‘not causing many problems’ as focus shifts to Iran talks

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has said Hamas is currently playing a limited role in regional tensions, arguing that the priority for Washington should be securing an agreement with Iran. In remarks to Fox News, Trump said Hamas “isn’t causing a lot of problems right now” in the Gaza Strip and suggested that ongoing diplomatic efforts should be given time to develop. The president linked broader regional stability to the outcome of negotiations between Washington and Tehran, which are currently underway in Switzerland. “The main focus of the United States should be on reaching an agreement with Iran,” Trump said, adding that “many other issues will find their way to resolution once the Iranian issue is resolved.” His comments come as

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  Trump says Syria could play larger role against Hezbollah, criticises Israeli performance

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump has suggested that Syria could assume a greater role in efforts against Hezbollah, while expressing frustration with Israel’s ability to weaken the Lebanese group. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he was considering giving Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa a broader role in addressing the Hezbollah issue. “I’m about to give the order to enter southern Lebanon to Ahmed al-Sharaa because he will do a more precise job,” Trump said. The US president also criticised Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah, arguing that Israeli operations had failed to achieve their stated objectives. Trump said he was disappointed that Israel “cannot eliminate Hezbollah” and claimed that the Israeli military “cannot do anything without demolishing buildings.” The remarks

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  Report: Trump administration establishing contacts with Israeli opposition figures amid political uncertainty

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  The administration of US President Donald Trump has reportedly established contacts with prominent Israeli opposition figures amid growing expectations of political change in Israel and continuing tensions between Washington and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. According to a report by Israel’s Channel 12, officials within the Trump administration believe there is a significant possibility that Israel could see a change in government, prompting informal outreach to opposition leaders. The report said US officials have held contacts with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as part of efforts to maintain communication channels across Israel’s political spectrum. Channel 12 reported that some officials in Washington are concerned about the influence of hardline factions within Netanyahu’s governing coalition and

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  Palestinian detainee Saber Al-Amital dies in Israeli custody

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Palestinian detainee Saber Al-Amital from the Negev region has reportedly died in Israeli custody, Palestinian rights groups announced on Sunday, calling for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. According to family members, Al-Amital had no known pre-existing medical conditions before his arrest earlier this month. Al-Amital was detained by Israeli authorities on 4June and was interrogated by Israel’s internal security agency, Shin Bet, according to Palestinian sources. The sources said he was denied access to legal counsel during his detention. According to information provided by his family, Al-Amital appeared before a court the day after his arrest and told the judge that he was in good health. The court subsequently approved extending his detention until June 11 on

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  Hezbollah: direct negotiations with Israel based on ‘wrong premise’, lead to submission

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Lebanon’s Hezbollah has condemned direct negotiations with Israel and the outcomes they may produce, describing the approach as “flawed and suspicious” and aimed at “submission and surrender”. In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said the rounds of direct talks involving a Lebanese government delegation in Washington were taking place under what it described as US-imposed conditions that undermine Lebanon’s sovereignty and shift its political position towards “those reconciled with the Zionist occupation”. Hezbollah said the “reconciliation-based” negotiations were unlikely to achieve any positive results because, in its view, they are founded on submission and surrender. The group reiterated its condemnation of what it called the obstructive role of the talks, arguing that they hinder efforts to confront Israeli

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  Israel plans to reduce forces in southern Lebanon under US pressure ahead of Lebanese army deployment

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  The Israeli army is expected to reduce the size of its ground forces operating in southern Lebanon, according to a report published on Sunday by Israeli public broadcaster KAN. The broadcaster said the gradual reduction is due to the fact that “most offensive missions have been completed and there is no longer a need for all the soldiers currently deployed in the security zone”. KAN added that another reason is an expected meeting this week between Israeli and Lebanese negotiating teams, during which pilot areas in southern Lebanon will be defined. According to the report, these areas will be free of Hezbollah, with the Lebanese army taking responsibility for them to test its ability to prevent the group from re-establishing

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  Huckabee repeats claim despite Trump remarks: US would not exist without Israel

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has repeated his claim that the United States would not exist without Israel, despite comments by US President Donald Trump that Israel would not exist without the United States. Speaking at a conference organised by the Jewish News Agency in West Jerusalem on Sunday, Huckabee said he had sparked controversy when he stated that “without Israel and its Jewish foundation, there would be no America.” He argued that Western civilisation was built on Jewish and Judeo-Christian foundations. “Without that, there would be no United States. It’s that simple,” Huckabee said. He also claimed that he feels safer in Jerusalem than in Washington. Huckabee noted that US-Israeli relations had experienced tensions over the past week,

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  ‘Losing bet’: Hebrew media reports failure of armed militias to challenge Hamas in Gaza

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Despite months of attempts by Israel to support local armed groups in the Gaza Strip as an alternative to Hamas, growing Israeli media reports indicate that the experiment has failed to achieve its objectives, amid widespread public rejection of these groups and accusations that their members have committed abuses against civilians. In this context, the Hebrew news website Zman Yisrael published a lengthy report concluding that more than 99 per cent of Gaza’s residents still live under Hamas rule, while the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to rely on armed militias that cooperate with the Israeli military despite their limited influence on the ground. The report said these groups had failed to pose a genuine challenge to

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  Hebrew Media: Warnings mount in Israel over politicisation of judiciary

  by Marwa A on June 22, 2026

  Israeli media reported that the Supreme Court held a heated hearing on Sunday on a bill aimed at changing the judicial selection committee, amid warnings that the move could politicise the judiciary. The bill was proposed by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin in January 2023, with the backing of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, as part of a wider judicial reform plan. According to Israel’s official public broadcaster KAN, the court held a lengthy session to consider petitions filed against the proposed legislation. The broadcaster described the bill as one of the key elements of the judicial reform programme led by Levin, which has sparked deep political and legal divisions in Israel, particularly since 2023. Several Supreme Court judges voiced

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  Hezbollah rejects Israel’s ‘free rein’ to carry out attacks amid Lebanon ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem on Sunday rejected any ceasefire that grants Israel a “free rein” to carry out attacks in Lebanon, Anadolu reports. “They said a ceasefire means that Hezbollah will not fire, while Israel will remain free to act, to kill wherever it wants, and to advance wherever it wants. This is called a continuation of the aggression, and we will not accept it,” Qassem said in a televised speech. “There is no such thing as a ceasefire with freedom of movement for Israel,” he stressed. The Hezbollah chief said a ceasefire means “a complete cessation of aggression by air, land, and sea, and a halt to destruction.” “The continued presence of the Israeli army on Lebanese soil is

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  Iran says Switzerland talks with US focus on ending war, easing sanctions, releasing frozen assets

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Sunday that talks in Switzerland are focused on implementing key provisions of the June 18 memorandum of understanding with the US, including ending the war, easing sanctions, and releasing frozen Iranian assets, Anadolu reports. Iran “is determined to pursue the implementation of the other side’s commitments with precision and seriousness,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in comments carried by state broadcaster IRIB. He said the Switzerland meeting was convened to follow up on the implementation of the memorandum ending the war, adding that Article 13 makes the start of negotiations on a final agreement “conditional” on the implementation of Articles 1, 4, 5, 10, and 11. “Without the implementation of these provisions, particularly Article 1, which

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  Iranian side ‘very straight’, handled crisis to de-escalate: Pakistani Premier Sharif

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday described the Iranian side as “very straight” and said its leadership had handled the Middle East crisis with “a sense of dignity” in efforts to de-escalate tensions during ongoing talks in Switzerland, Anadolu reports. “They genuinely mean promoting peace in the region,” Sharif told reporters. “So is (US) President (Donald) Trump. I have no second thought about the fact that he is the man of peace. He has demonstrated that during the war between Pakistan and India, when the two countries were very close to a nuclear flashpoint,” he added. Sharif is in Switzerland as United States and Iranian delegations hold technical negotiations following the signing of a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday

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  Germany warns against Strait of Hormuz tolls

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned on Sunday against establishing a toll system for the Strait of Hormuz following the end of the US-Iran war, Anadolu reports. The sea lane, which is crucial for global energy supplies, must remain freely navigable—this is a principle of the law of the sea, the German Press Agency (dpa) cited the minister as saying at a public forum at the Foreign Ministry during the German government’s Open House in Berlin. Wadephul noted that the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran contains unclear wording, “which at least calls for a degree of skepticism as to whether this is truly 100 percent guaranteed.” READ: Trump says ‘no tolls’ in Strait of Hormuz for 60 days,

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  Trump says Israel unable to ‘put Hezbollah away,’ suggests Syria could do it

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment with Israel’s handling of Hezbollah, saying it has failed to decisively defeat the Lebanese group and relies too heavily on destructive military tactics, Anadolu reports. Speaking to Fox News, Trump said Israel has been unable to “put Hezbollah away.” “I am disappointed Israel cannot put Hezbollah away,” he said. Trump also criticized Israel’s military approach in Lebanon. “They can’t do anything without knocking buildings down,” he said. READ: Trump warns Iran to stop ‘proxies in Lebanon’ or US will hit Tehran ‘very hard again’ The US president suggested that Syria’s leadership could be more effective in dealing with the group. “I am close to giving this to Syria,” Trump said in terms of dealing with

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  Turkish foreign minister warns US-Iran talks may face setbacks, says Israel could sabotage process

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Sunday said that technical issues remaining in the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran may not be easy to resolve quickly and warned that Israel could sabotage the process, Anadolu reports. “These are important issues. It may not be easy to immediately resolve their technical details. We may see deadlocks from time to time. We need to be prepared for that. Secondly, of course, there is always an Israel waiting in the corner, ready to sabotage the process as soon as it finds the opportunity,” Fidan told Anadolu in Cairo. He made the remarks during his visit to the Egyptian capital for the Fourth Consultative Meeting of the Foreign Ministers

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  FIFA’s double standard in global geopolitics

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  The 2026 FIFA World Cup began surrounded by a contradiction that extends far beyond the boundaries of the football pitch. While FIFA insists on presenting football as a neutral space capable of uniting peoples and nations above political disputes, the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico has exposed a different reality: geopolitics continues to determine who can travel, compete and be represented at the world’s largest sporting event. In the opening weeks of the competition, referees were prevented from entering the United States, accredited professionals were deported, officials encountered visa obstacles, delegations faced immigration-related harassment and supporters had their travel plans disrupted by administrative decisions taken by US authorities. Perhaps the most symbolic case involved Haiti’s national

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  Iran’s negotiating team protests Trump ‘threats,’ says they violate memorandum of understanding

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Iran’s negotiating team has protested US President Donald Trump’s “threats” during ongoing talks in Switzerland, arguing that the remarks constitute a “violation” of the memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington, according to Iran’s Tasnim News Agency. Citing the Iranian negotiating delegation, Tasnim reported that Trump’s threats against Iran and its negotiating team represent “a blatant violation” of the first article of the memorandum of understanding. According to the delegation, Article 1 of the memorandum requires the US to refrain from issuing a “threat.” Earlier on Sunday, Trump urged Iran to “immediately stop their highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble,” or Washington will hit Tehran “very hard again.” “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just

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  AD Ports launches Iraq logistics corridor linking Gulf with Turkiye, Europe

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  The AD Ports Group has launched an integrated logistics service linking Khalifa Port in the United Arab Emirates with Iraq’s Umm Qasr Port, establishing a new trade corridor connecting the Gulf with Turkiye and European markets, Anadolu reports. The UAE-based group said in a statement that it has deployed the necessary logistics infrastructure at both Khalifa Port and Umm Qasr to facilitate cargo storage and transportation, aiming to ensure smoother trade flows and strengthen long-term supply chain resilience. Located on Iraq’s southern coast and connected to the country’s road network extending toward the Turkish and Syrian borders, Umm Qasr serves as a key gateway for goods moving from Gulf states to Turkiye and Europe through overland and rail freight corridors.

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  Insuring oil, shaping power: The hidden geopolitics of Middle East energy

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  For decades, the geopolitics of Middle East energy has been defined by a familiar set of variables: oil reserves, production capacity, strategic waterways and military power. Analysts have traditionally focused on OPEC decisions, energy sanctions, pipeline routes and maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab Al-Mandab Strait. Yet one of the most powerful forces shaping contemporary energy markets operates largely outside public attention. It does not own oil fields. It does not command military fleets. It does not participate in diplomatic summits. Nevertheless, it possesses the ability to influence global energy flows, alter shipping decisions and affect the economic viability of energy exports. That force is energy insurance. The hidden infrastructure of global energy trade When

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  1st round of 4-party Iran-US talks concludes in Switzerland

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  The first round of four-party talks involving Iran and the US, with mediation by Qatar and Pakistan, has concluded in Switzerland, Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported Sunday, citing a source familiar with the Iranian negotiating team. According to the source, the initial round of the Swiss-hosted negotiations has now been completed. The meeting was suspended after approximately 80 minutes of talks to allow the participating delegations to conduct internal consultations, the source added. No further details were immediately released on when the next session would begin. READ: ‘Great progress’ made in talks with Iran, Vance says as talks kick off in Switzerland Earlier in the day, Qatar announced the start of US-Iran negotiations in Switzerland with the participation of Qatari

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  Lebanon paid the price for a ceasefire that never existed

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  There are moments in international affairs when language itself becomes part of the violence. Lebanon’s latest tragedy may be one of them. More than 150 Israeli strikes reportedly hit southern Lebanon overnight, leaving dozens dead and hundreds injured. Entire neighbourhoods were shattered before sunrise. Families fled once again along roads already crowded by months of displacement. Yet this devastation unfolded beneath the vocabulary of a ‘ceasefire’ — a word that, in theory, should signify restraint, protection and a chance for diplomacy to breathe. The scale of the suffering tells its own story. Since March 2, 3,980 people have been killed and more than 12,000 wounded, among them 247 children, 363 women and 133 healthcare workers. More than one million civilians

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  Trump warns Iran to stop ‘proxies in Lebanon’ or US will hit Tehran ‘very hard again’

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Sunday urged Iran to “immediately stop their highly paid proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble” or Washington will hit Tehran “very hard again,” Anadolu reports. “If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. According to Fox News, Trump also spoke with Iranians overnight and warned that if they close the Strait of Hormuz, “you won’t have a country.” “You won’t even make it back to your f—– country.” “We may take over the Strait, if we have to,” Trump said. He said that the US could become the “Guardian Angel” of the Strait of Hormuz and take 20% of the

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  Israeli army won’t withdraw from occupied territory in southern Lebanon, defense minister says

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  The Israeli army will not withdraw from territory occupied in southern Lebanon, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Sunday, Anadolu reports. “The ceasefire announced yesterday leaves the IDF (army) in all positions within the security zone that protects the northern communities,” Katz said in a statement carried by The Times of Israel news portal. The army “will not withdraw from the security zone in Lebanon,” he added. The statement was made as negotiations between the US and Iran started in Switzerland on Sunday to reach a lasting peace agreement between the two sides. An interim agreement between Washington and Tehran called for halting all hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. Katz claimed that Israeli forces have “no restriction” in Lebanon.

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  Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia welcome US-Iran MoU, reaffirm support for Palestinian statehood

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Turkiye, Egypt, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia welcomed a recent US-Iran memorandum of understanding aimed at easing regional tensions and reaffirmed their support for Palestinian statehood during a meeting of their foreign ministers in Cairo on Sunday, Anadolu reports. The ministers met in the Egyptian capital at Egypt’s invitation for the fourth consultative meeting of the four-country grouping, known as the R4, according to a joint statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry. The ministers discussed regional and international developments and emphasized the importance of ongoing consultation and coordination in promoting peace, security, stability, and prosperity throughout the Middle East and the wider region, said the statement issued following the R4 meeting. They welcomed the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of

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  The next Iran? Why Israel’s Turkey anxiety is becoming doctrine

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  On 17th February, addressing the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations in Jerusalem, former prime minister Naftali Bennett delivered a line that has since become shorthand for a shift in Israeli strategic thinking: “Turkey is the new Iran.” He accused Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of seeking to “encircle Israel.” He charged Ankara and Doha with nourishing a Muslim Brotherhood axis modeled on Iran’s proxy network, this time anchored by a “hostile Sunni axis with nuclear Pakistan.” Coming from a man positioning himself for an electoral comeback this fall, the remarks could be dismissed as campaign theatre. They are not isolated. Bennett’s framing echoes a document few outside Israel’s defense establishment have read closely. In January 2025, the Nagel Committee

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  Washington in contact with Israeli opposition amid possible change in Netanyahu government: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  The US administration is in contact with the Israeli opposition, amid a possible change in the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following growing differences between Washington and Tel Aviv, Israeli media reported Sunday. Channel 12 said officials in US President Donald Trump’s administration believe that the Netanyahu government could possibly be changed, prompting Washington to make informal contacts with opposition leaders Naftali Bennett, head of the Together party, and Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party. “The US administration has expressed concern about hardliners in Netanyahu’s government and is seeking to build a new popular base before the elections,” the outlet said. According to the channel, the Israeli opposition sought to build ties with the US administration in recent

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  Child among 2 Palestinians killed by Israeli strikes in latest Gaza ceasefire violations

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Two Palestinians, including a child, were killed and several others injured in Israeli strikes across the Gaza Strip on Sunday, in the latest violations of a ceasefire in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, a medical source said, Anadolu reports. An Israeli strike targeted a group of civilians near Dream Hall west of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, killing the two and injuring others, the source said. Another Palestinian was critically wounded after an Israeli airstrike hit a tent at Ibn Sina School in the Al-Nasr neighborhood northwest of Gaza City, the source added. READ: Al Jazeera cameraman among 10 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza despite ceasefire Both locations targeted by the Israeli military lie outside areas where Israeli

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  ‘Great progress’ made in talks with Iran, Vance says as talks kick off in Switzerland

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US Vice President JD Vance on Sunday said that “great progress has been made” over the last few hours in talks with Iran, and expressed hope that “additional progress” would be made in the coming hours as talks between the two sides kicked off in Switzerland, Anadolu reports. “We’ve already made great progress over just the last few hours, and I expect it will make additional progress” in the coming hours, Vance said in his remarks before the opening of talks in Burgenstock. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, together with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, opened the talks aimed at implementing the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 17. Vance said that the

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  The Midnight Bus

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  In October 1968, at the Summer Olympics in Mexico City, the American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos stood on the medal podium after the 200 meters. As the national anthem played, each man raised a black gloved fist into the air and bowed his head. The gesture lasted under two minutes. It was meant to draw attention to racial injustice in the United States, at a time when the civil rights movement was met with violence and the Olympic Committee insisted that politics had no place in sport. The International Olympic Committee disagreed with that interpretation only when the politics pointed in a direction it did not like. Smith and Carlos were stripped of their accreditation and sent home

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  Al Jazeera demands punishment of Israeli officials for killing of its correspondents in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Al Jazeera Media Network demanded Saturday that the international community and legal institutions punish Israeli officials for crimes committed against its correspondents and staff in the Gaza Strip, the latest of which was the killing of cameraman Ahmed Washah, Anadolu reports. The network affirmed its intention to prosecute the perpetrators of the crimes. It came in a statement by the network following the killing of the Al Jazeera Mubasher cameraman in an Israeli strike that targeted a house in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. The network said it condemns the killing of Washah, noting that his brother, Mohammed, a correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was killed in an Israeli strike two months earlier. It added that Ahmed’s killing

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  Iran says $6B frozen assets in Qatar will be released as part of preliminary deal with US

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that $6 billion frozen assets in Qatar will be returned to Tehran as part of a preliminary deal between Iran and the US, Anadolu reports. “With the start of the negotiations from today, the $6 billion we have in Qatar will also be unfrozen and returned to our country,” Pezeshkian said in statements carried by the state broadcaster IRIB. “What is certain is that we will never give up our right to enrich uranium, and the other side will be forced to accept it,” he added. Addressing Washington’s concerns over Iran’s nuclear program, Pezeshkian said Iran “has no intention” of developing nuclear weapons. READ: US, Iranian delegations arrive in Switzerland for technical talks “This

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  Breaking Bad actor Giancarlo Esposito embraces Islam in Saudi Arabia: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  American actor Giancarlo Esposito, known for his role as Gus Fring in the television series Breaking Bad, has embraced Islam during a stay in Saudi Arabia, media reports said on Sunday. Saudi Gazette reported that General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Al-Sheikh said Esposito recited the Shahada, the Islamic declaration of faith, and joined members of a production team in prayer at a mosque while filming in the kingdom. According to Al-Sheikh, the actor’s decision followed positive experiences during his time in Saudi Arabia and interactions with Muslims while working on a production in the country. He also said Esposito expressed appreciation for the community and hospitality he encountered during filming. READ: UN chief says Muslims face discrimination, urges action to combat

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  Jordan executes 6 individuals on alleged terrorism charges

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Jordan has executed six persons who were convicted in separate terrorism and criminal cases tied to attacks that killed members of the Jordanian army and the Public Security Directorate, the Jordanian government said on Sunday, Anadolu Agency reports. Citing Government Communications Minister and official spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani, Roya News reported that the executions were carried out at dawn on Sunday after all sentences became final and legal procedures were completed. “Al-Momani detailed that two of those executed were convicted in the so-called ‘Salt Cell’ case, which involved the formation of a terrorist group in 2018. “The attack resulted in the deaths of multiple security personnel, including officers and soldiers from the Public Security Directorate and the Jordan Armed Forces,” the

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  Israeli occupiers attack Palestinian towns, homes in West Bank under army protection

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Israeli occupiers attacked Palestinian homes and property Saturday in several areas of the occupied West Bank, under the protection of the Israeli army, Anadolu reports. Sources told Anadolu that armed settlers attacked the town of Turmus Ayya in northeastern Ramallah in the central West Bank, and grazed their sheep on land planted with olive trees near residents’ homes. They added that the occupiers surrounded a house in the eastern part of the town and attempted to storm it, before Israeli army forces raided the area to provide protection to the occupiers. In the nearby town of Sinjil, a group of armed occupiers attacked the western area of the town, while several residents confronted them, according to the sources. Sources said

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  Widespread protests in Israel demand Netanyahu’s departure, criticize his policies

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Several Israeli cities witnessed demonstrations Saturday against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, while police in Jerusalem confiscated sound equipment used by protesters, Anadolu reports. The Hebrew newspaper Haaretz reported that hundreds of Israelis took part in protests at various locations across the country against the government, while 1,000 demonstrators joined the main rally at Habima Square in central Tel Aviv. The newspaper added that Israeli police in Jerusalem continued measures they began last week, temporarily confiscating sound equipment from protesters at Paris Square near Netanyahu’s residence, citing the prevention of noise. During the main demonstration in Tel Aviv, Carmit Palty Katzir, whose father was killed Oct. 7, 2023, and whose mother and brother were taken captive in the Gaza Strip

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  US, Iranian delegations arrive in Switzerland for technical talks

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US and Iranian delegations arrived in Switzerland as of Sunday for technical negotiations under the memorandum of understanding signed on Wednesday to end the months-long Middle East conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. The talks in Burgenstock will be led by US Vice President JD Vance, and on the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, under Pakistani mediation. Before departing on Saturday, Vance said US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were already on the ground to address the “technical elements” of the negotiations. Vance, who landed at Emmen Air Base north of Burgenstock, had also said he was “very confident” that Washington and Tehran could preserve the ceasefire established under

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  Ex-Israeli prime minister says Tel Aviv could have rejected US-Iran agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Tel Aviv could have rejected the US-Iran agreement, stressing that it is possible to say “no” to US President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. Bennett made the remarks in an interview with 103FM, affiliated with the Israeli daily Maariv, which circulated after Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18, 2026. During the interview, Bennett criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the recent war with Iran “ended in a terrible failure.” He argued that “Iran continues its nuclear program and is moving forward with its ballistic missile program, while the regime remains in place.” Asked whether he would be able, if he were prime minister now, to reject a request

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  Trump says ‘no tolls’ in Strait of Hormuz for 60 days, warns of possible US fees later

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Saturday that no maritime fees will be permitted in the Strait of Hormuz during the current 60-day ceasefire, warning that Washington may impose its own tolls thereafter, Anadolu reports. After the 60 days, fees might be collected for “services rendered as the guardian angel” to Middle Eastern nations to ensure “reimbursement of costs” for the past and future, should a final deal not be completed, said Trump. “There will be no tolls … unless they are imposed by and for the United States of America,” the US president wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. The ultimatum follows an announcement from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters that the waterway will be closed due to

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  Al Jazeera cameraman among 10 killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on June 21, 2026

  Ten Palestinians, including Al Jazeera cameraman Ahmad Washah and four members of a family, were killed and scores of others were injured in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since early Saturday in the latest violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 2025, according to medical sources and witnesses, Anadolu reports. Two Palestinians were killed, including Al Jazeera Mubasher (Live) cameraman Ahmad Washah, and a third was injured in an Israeli drone strike targeting a house in Al-Bureij Camp in the central Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera’s Mubasher section confirmed that its cameraman Washah was killed in the Israeli strike that targeted the house. With Washah’s death, the number of Al Jazeera staffers and journalists killed in the Gaza

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  2 Lebanese soldiers killed in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, violating ceasefire

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  Two Lebanese soldiers were killed on Saturday in two separate Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese army said in a statement, Anadolu reports. The army said Jamil Nahhal was killed in an Israeli airstrike while traveling on the Kfarrumman–Nabatieh road in southern Lebanon. The “brutal Israeli occupiers’ attacks continue against Lebanon,” the army said, noting that the latest escalation has affected wide areas in the south and extended to the Bekaa Valley, causing additional deaths and injuries and inflicting significant damage to property. It warned that the continued attacks could obstruct efforts aimed at restoring stability in the country. In a separate statement, the army said First Sergeant Ali Ibrahim died of wounds sustained in an Israeli airstrike on

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  Medico: Israel’s white phosphorus and glyphosate point back to Germany’s Bayer group

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  Human rights organisation Medico International and the German network “Coordination gegen Bayer-Gefahren“ (Coordination against Bayer Dangers, CBG) have reported that the glyphosate and white phosphorus used by the Israeli occupation forces in Lebanon which were presumably of German origin. At the beginning of February this year, reports emerged in the international media alleging that the Israeli army had deployed the environmental toxin glyphosate in southern Lebanon and in occupied Syria. According to Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture, glyphosate concentrations in some samples taken in the region exceeded “normal levels by around 20 to 30 times”. Lebanon’s president Joseph Aoun described the situation as “environmental and health crimes”. The incident is of particular relevance to Germany, as the US-based glyphosate manufacturer Monsanto

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  Red Ribbons event in London highlights escalating crisis facing Palestinian hostages

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  LONDON – Emotional testimonies, legal arguments, and political interventions marked a high-profile solidarity event held at SOAS University of London on Friday evening, as speakers warned that the situation of Palestinian hostages held in Israeli detention has reached what they described as “unprecedented levels of brutality” amid the ongoing war on Gaza. The event, organised by the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) in partnership with the Red Ribbons Campaign, brought together campaign coordinator Adnan Hmidan, ICJP director Tayb Ali, lawyer Khaled Mahajneh, Palestinian activist Saif Abu Keshek, campaigner Katrina Graham, and Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn. The discussion was chaired by journalist and activist Matilda Mallinson. Speakers repeatedly argued that while global attention remains focused on Gaza, conditions inside

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  Strait of Hormuz ‘closed to all vessels’ over Israeli, US violations: Iran’s IRGC

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz has been “closed to all vessels,” warning ships against approaching the strategic waterway, Anadolu reports. According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the IRGC Navy said the move came in response to what it described as the “crimes of the Zionist regime” in Lebanon and the US violation of its commitments to establish a ceasefire. “Vessels should not approach the strait; otherwise, their security will be at risk,” it added. US intelligence warns Israel could undermine Iran peace deal: Report

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  Israeli strikes kill at least 28 in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on June 20, 2026

  The death toll from Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon on Saturday has risen to at least 28, despite a ceasefire and the US-Iran agreement, Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported, Anadolu reports. The Israeli army carried out airstrikes on the southern Lebanese cities of Nabatieh, Tyre and Sidon since the early hours of the day. An Israeli airstrike targeting the town of Qanarit in Sidon killed seven people and injured 13 others, according to preliminary figures. Lebanon’s Civil Defense Directorate said 16 people were killed in Israeli attacks in Nabatieh. Earlier, an Israeli airstrike on the town of Barish in Tyre killed four members of the same family, including two children, the NNA added. Another person was killed in the