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

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  EU rejects US campaign against the International Criminal Court

  by Mehdi Editor on July 15, 2026

  The European Commission on Tuesday rejected the US administration’s campaign against the International Criminal Court (ICC), describing threats against the court’s judges, their families, and those cooperating with the institution as “completely unacceptable”. The European response came a day after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sharply criticized the ICC amid continuing tensions between Washington and the Hague-based court over its investigations related to Israel and the issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli officials. European Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni said the European Union remains firmly committed to international criminal justice. “We are firmly committed to international criminal justice,” El Anouni said during a press briefing. He added that “attacks or threats against judges of the Court, their families, or

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  Chokepoints of power: Hormuz, Bab el-Mandeb, and the new corridor wars

  by Mehdi Editor on July 15, 2026

  The concept of “corridor wars” describes intensifying competition among major powers over critical trade, energy, and transit routes in an era of weaponized interdependence. Unlike traditional territorial conflicts, these struggles center on controlling, securing, bypassing, or disrupting chokepoints: narrow maritime passages and overland links through which global commerce flows. Key arenas include the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and connected corridors such as the Suez Canal.  As of July 2026, disruptions arising from the US-Iran conflict have exposed these vulnerabilities more clearly, with Hormuz largely blocked since February and threats extending toward Bab el-Mandeb. Instability at one chokepoint can therefore spread across a wider network of energy and trade routes, turning corridor security into a

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  Israel approves 1.3 billion Shekels for new settlement development in the West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 15, 2026

  Israel’s Security Cabinet approved a budget of approximately 1.3 billion shekels ($434,579,210.00 US) for the development of new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to an announcement made on Tuesday. The budget, approved about a month ago, is allocated for the construction of residential neighbourhoods, infrastructure, and development works associated with new settlements. According to the announcement, the funding is in addition to other government decisions made in recent months concerning settlement planning, road construction, and security measures. The decision was prepared by the Prime Minister’s Office and is scheduled to be implemented through the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Construction and Housing. The Israeli government said the objective is to establish the initial infrastructure needed for the

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  Iran says it destroyed US Fifth Fleet HQ in Bahrain and targeted bases in Kuwait, Jordan

  by Mehdi Editor on July 15, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Wednesday it had carried out attacks on US sites and facilities in Bahrain and Kuwait, describing the operation as a response to what it called American aggression. The IRGC claimed it had destroyed the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet, as well as fuel facilities and military equipment in Bahrain, according to Reuters. It also said it had targeted the US military logistics support centre at Abdullah Port in Kuwait, claiming it had set the site on fire and destroyed it. The group added that it had also struck the port itself. Iranian state media, quoting the country’s military, also reported that US military facilities at Al Azraq Air Base in Jordan

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  The lesson of time: What Iraq might learn from Japan’s two devastating experiences

  by Mehdi Editor on July 15, 2026

  Nations, like men, learn most from the wounds they survive. Japan learned twice. The first lesson nearly destroyed it. The second rebuilt it. Iraq has yet to learn either. Whether it still has time to internalize the hard lesson is the question this moment forces us to ask. The black ships and the first lesson On 8 July 1853, four American warships under Commodore Matthew Perry entered Uraga harbor. They trained their guns on the town. Perry refused Japanese demands that he sail on to Nagasaki, the only port then open to foreigners. He did not fire. He did not need to. The threat alone was enough. The Tokugawa shogunate, having watched China humiliated in the Opium War a decade

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  Israel kills 11 Palestinians, including police chief, in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  At least 11 Palestinians, including the director of the police station in Jabalia refugee camp, and several police officers, were killed Tuesday in a series of Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian officials. The strikes came amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025. The bodies of seven Palestinians, including a woman, were taken to Al-Shifa Medical Complex and the American field hospital after an Israeli strike near Shadia School in the Al-Falouja area west of Jabalia refugee camp, a medical source told Anadolu. In a statement, the Gaza Interior Ministry said those killed included Col. Mohammed Marwan Salem, director of the Jabalia refugee camp police station, along with several police

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  Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil sues Heritage Foundation, Stephen Miller, others

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against the Heritage Foundation, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and others, accusing them of participating in a coordinated effort to retaliate against him for his advocacy on Palestinian rights, Anadolu reports. Khalil said the case was brought under the Ku Klux Klan Act, a Reconstruction-era civil rights law designed to combat conspiracies to deprive individuals of their constitutional rights. “Today, I sued the Heritage Foundation, Stephen Miller, a Columbia affiliate, and others under the KKK Act,” he said, adding that this lawsuit is about “accountability and justice.” READ: Poll: 40 % of non-religious US Jews accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza Khalil, a lawful US resident and a

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  Lebanon, Israel conclude 1st day of direct talks in Rome

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  The first day of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Rome concluded on Tuesday following a seven-hour meeting at the US Embassy, an Anadolu correspondent said. The Italian capital is hosting a sixth round of direct negotiations on Tuesday and Wednesday, following five previous rounds in Washington that resulted in the signing of a framework agreement. A high-level Lebanese official, who requested anonymity, told Anadolu that the first day of talks was “positive and constructive, but the matter requires further discussion.” The Israeli side “requested clarifications regarding the mechanism of Lebanese army deployment and the verification of its complete control after the Israeli withdrawal,” the official said. “These clarifications will be addressed during Wednesday’s session, which will begin at

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  Israeli Knesset passes law banning arrest of Haredi draft dodgers

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  The Israeli Knesset (parliament) on Tuesday passed a law temporarily banning the arrest and prosecution of ultra-Orthodox Jews evading military service. Lawmakers passed a bill exempting Haredi draft dodgers in the second and third readings by 58-54 votes, the daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was absent from Tuesday’s vote on the controversial bill, championed by the ultra-Orthodox parties. The law grants tens of thousands of Haredi draft evaders immunity from arrest until Nov. 30, and extends that protection to those who become eligible for military service after it takes effect. It also suspends ongoing criminal proceedings against those already facing enforcement measures. There are roughly 72,000 Haredi men who were liable to arrest until today, according to

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  Trump urged Netanyahu to pull Israeli troops out of Syria, Lebanon: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Thursday to pull Israeli troops out of Syria and Lebanon, Axios reported on Tuesday. Citing US and Israeli officials, the report noted Trump told Netanyahu that the Israeli military’s presence in Syrian territory was creating tensions and could lead to further escalation. “They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump told Netanyahu, according to a US official cited by Axios. It also claimed that Trump also made a similar request regarding Lebanon, while Netanyahu argued that Israel needs security zones along its borders. Axios said the call came a day after Trump met Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit

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  UN rights chief urges immediate return to Iran-US ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  UN human rights chief Volker Turk urged an immediate return Tuesday to a ceasefire between Iran and the US as tensions escalate, warning that renewed hostilities are a “huge setback” for civilians and risk deepening regional instability, Anadolu reports. “It undermines peace efforts and deepens instability, with grave risks for human rights across the entire region,” Turk said in a statement. He said reported Iranian attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, reported US attacks against civilian infrastructure in Iran, and Iranian attacks against civilian objects in other countries in the region “must stop immediately.” Turk urged all parties to respect international humanitarian and human rights law, take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian objects, and

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  Trump: No country ‘should be able to’ charge fee for Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that no country should be allowed to charge fees to transit the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. “We would like to invest tremendously in the United States as opposed to charging a fee. And I like that actually because I don’t think anybody should be able to charge a fee for the strait or for any other strait relationship in terms of other sections of the world,” Trump said at a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi at the White House. Trump said Gulf countries indicated a willingness to increase investments in the US instead of relying on transit fees. “The Gulf states are going to invest a tremendous amount of money into

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  US House minority leader to oppose bid to cut off Israel aid

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Tuesday he will oppose Republican Rep. Thomas Massie’s amendment that would cut off all US assistance to Israel, Anadolu reports. The amendment, which the House of Representatives is expected to consider in the coming days as part of a broader foreign operations spending bill, would mark the first standalone vote of the current Congress on ending US military and other assistance to Israel. The measure is expected to expose deep divisions within the Democratic Party on support for Israel. Dozens of Democrats are expected to back the proposal, which would eliminate the $3.3 billion in annual US assistance to Israel. In a letter, Jeffries argued that the amendment would limit the US’ ability to

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  Russia says renewed strikes against Iran violate memorandum, undermine nuclear settlement efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Tuesday that renewed military strikes against Iran undermine efforts to resolve the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint news conference after talks with Chadian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul in Moscow, Lavrov said the resumption of military action against Iran violated the memorandum signed between Tehran and Washington last month. The agreement mediated by Pakistan aimed at ending the war that began in February permanently, as well as hold negotiations over the nuclear program. But the US and Iran have exchanged renewed strikes over the past days, and have claimed control of the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for oil and gas shipping that Tehran blocked after

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  Israel briefly closes Al-Aqsa Mosque gate under pretext of military drills

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Israeli forces briefly closed the King Faisal Gate, one of the entrances to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in occupied East Jerusalem, on Tuesday during military drills, Palestinian officials said. The Palestinian official news agency Wafa, citing local sources, said Israeli forces closed all entrances to the mosque compound while carrying out military exercises. In a statement, the Jerusalem Governorate said Israeli forces closed the King Faisal Gate for about 30 minutes during the drills inside the mosque compound. The governorate said Israeli forces also tightened restrictions at the compound’s other gates, disrupting the movement of worshippers entering and leaving the site during the closure. READ: Israel detains Jerusalem grand mufti, bars him from Al-Aqsa Mosque for 1 week The latest measure

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  Israel faces reserve troop, tank shortages: Army Radio

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Israel’s army is facing shortages of reserve personnel and combat-ready tanks, with some reserve formations nearing “effective collapse,” according to a report by Israeli Army Radio on Tuesday. Under the headline “The Army’s Warning of the Collapse of the Reserve Forces,” the broadcaster said reserve brigades and battalions are operating below strength, with insufficient tanks available for combat. It said a reserve armored brigade was recently deployed to a key operational sector in Lebanon, but accounts from commanders and soldiers painted a different picture from the one presented by decision-makers. “These are not full brigades,” the report said. “They are far from it.” According to the broadcaster, the military no longer has enough combat-ready tanks after many were damaged in

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  Iran condemns UK designation of IRGC as ‘terror group’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Iran on Tuesday condemned the UK government’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group, saying Britain would bear the “political, legal and diplomatic consequences” of the move, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Iran’s Foreign Ministry described the designation as “unjustified and irresponsible” and said it violated international law, including the principles of sovereign equality and non-interference in the internal affairs of states. The ministry accused the UK of basing its decision on what it described as “baseless security allegations.” It said Iran reserved all its rights under the UN Charter and international law to take countermeasures in response to what it called Britain’s “inappropriate” action. On Monday, the UK designated the IRGC as a

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  Spanish campaign urges Congress to unblock arms embargo bill on Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Organizations behind Spain’s “End Arms Trade with Israel” campaign demonstrated outside the Congress of Deputies in Madrid on Tuesday, calling on lawmakers to immediately unblock legislation that would ban arms trade with Israel, Anadolu reports. The protest, held under the slogan “Time is Running Out, Arms Embargo Now,” was organized by the Solidarity Network Against the Occupation of Palestine (RESCOP) and backed by junior coalition partner Sumar, the Podemos party, and Basque and Catalan opposition parties represented in parliament. Campaign representatives criticized lawmakers for failing to advance the bill, saying it has yet to reach the parliamentary floor despite being submitted nearly two years ago. During the demonstration, organizers presented hourglasses to parliamentary groups to symbolize the urgency of approving

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  Israel signs $2.3B deal to expand West Bank settlements with 12,000 new homes

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Israel signed a 8.5 billion-shekel ($2.3 billion) framework agreement to expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, including the construction of 12,000 new housing units and major infrastructure projects, according to Israeli media. Israel’s Channel 14 described the agreement as a “giant” step aimed at expanding settlements and “changing the face of the region.” The agreement was signed at an official ceremony attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Israel Land Authority Director General Yehuda Eliyahu and Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, which oversees numerous Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank. READ: Israeli forces demolish Palestinian home near Hebron in occupied West Bank The report said the agreement would “give significant momentum”

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  Seven Palestinians, including a woman, killed in Israeli strike on police station in Gaza

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Watch: Israeli forces demolish Palestinian home near Hebron in occupied West Bank

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  Fee fantasies and false openings: Trump’s Hormuz delusions continue

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  With the Iran-US ceasefire all but retired to the infirmary of international politics, Washington has conducted air strikes on Iran for a third straight night.  On early July 14, Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported explosions in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas and six explosions on Kish Island, with further blasts on Qeshm Island. Prior to those strikes, President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that, “We’re attacking them tonight, and we’re taking out all their capability for anything having to do with the Strait of Hormuz”.  That bit of wishful thinking was also accompanied by the hope that a diplomatic agreement with Tehran might still be reached, despite the latest mayhem.  US Central Command (CENTCOM)

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  What context is left out of humanitarian aid announcements?

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Humanitarian aid, wherever it comes from is, is becoming murkier. The only clear aspect about humanitarian aid is that each scheme announced signifies a bid for political influence at the expense of the forcibly displaced population of Gaza. US Ambassador to the UN Jeff Bartos recently urged UNRWA donors to fund the Board of Peace instead, in a bid to oust UNRWA completely and render the agency irrelevant to Palestinian refugees. The bid, of course, is futile, since UNRWA was created specifically to cater for Palestinian refugees. Despite all the discrepancies it operates from as a result of diplomacy and enforced neutrality, UNRWA is still part of the Palestinian refugees’ narrative, as well as a vital component of the international

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  Malaysian PM says he has kept pledge to keep fuel prices below Saudi Arabia, Qatar

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had fulfilled his earlier pledge to keep fuel prices in Malaysia lower than those in Saudi Arabia, according to the Malaysian online newspaper The Star on Tuesday. Anwar said fuel prices in Malaysia are lower than those in major oil-exporting countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar, adding that comparisons should be made with those countries rather than with non-oil-producing nations, where fuel prices are much higher. His remarks came in response to a question from a member of parliament during the Prime Minister’s Question Time in Malaysian parliament, the Dewan Rakyat, on Tuesday. Anwar said: “When we previously called for petrol (prices) to be reduced to RM1.50, the price in

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  Gulf states: Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia require firm international response

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) said on Monday that continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia require a firm international response, describing the group’s latest attack on southern Saudi Arabia as a “cowardly attack”. GCC Secretary-General Jasem Al Budaiwi strongly condemned what he described as a “terrorist ballistic missile attack” carried out by the Houthi militia against the southern region of Saudi Arabia, according to a statement issued on Monday evening. Al Budaiwi said the “cowardly attack” was a flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law, reflecting the militia’s determination to undermine security and stability and threaten the safety of civilians and vital installations. He stressed that the Houthis’ continued “terrorist attacks”, their violations of international law and the

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  UN calls for lower tensions in Yemen and resorting to dialogue

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  The United Nations has called on all parties in Yemen to reduce tensions and resolve their differences through dialogue, warning that renewed military escalation could undermine efforts to achieve peace in the country. Khaled Khiari, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, made the appeal on Monday during an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on developments in Yemen, according to the UN web site. The meeting came shortly after Yemen’s Houthi group said in a video statement by its military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, that it had targeted Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia with several ballistic missiles and drones. The group said the attack was in response to strikes on Sanaa International

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  Red Ribbons Campaign calls for immediate implementation of Israeli Supreme Court ruling restoring ICRC access to Palestinian hostages and prisoners

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  The Red Ribbons Campaign for the Release of Palestinian Hostages and Prisoners Held in Israeli Prisons has renewed its urgent call on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to take immediate humanitarian action to ensure the practical implementation of the Israeli Supreme Court’s ruling of 3rd June 2026, which revoked the blanket prohibition on ICRC visits to Palestinian prisoners and detainees held in Israeli custody. The statement follows the publication last week of the Campaign’s open letter to the President and Director-General of the ICRC, urging the organisation to use all appropriate humanitarian means within its mandate to restore regular, meaningful and independent access to Palestinian hostages and prisoners in accordance with international humanitarian law and the ICRC’s

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  The Green Zone’s anti‑corruption purge: Justice or a new round of spoils?

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  For two decades, I have never been optimistic about the political order built in Iraq after 2003. My scepticism was not emotional but structural: the state was engineered in a way that carried its own failure within it. Even Tom Barrack, the US envoy to Iraq, eventually admitted that Washington had “created a failed state in Iraq.” That belated confession merely echoes what Iraqis have lived through for twenty years—a political system rooted in sectarian apportionment, a rentier economy distributed through party networks, and armed groups outside the state that guarantee the survival of those networks regardless of who sits in government. Yet this long arc of pessimism is now confronted by a hesitant temptation: the urge to pin hope

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  Israeli forces demolish Palestinian home near Hebron in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  Israeli forces demolished a Palestinian family’s home in the village of Ad-Deirat, near Yatta east of Hebron, on Tuesday, citing the lack of a building permit, Anadolu reports. Before the demolition began, members of the family and other Palestinians rushed to remove as many belongings as possible from the house owned by Osama Issa Musaif. Israeli forces were deployed around the area as construction equipment carried out the demolition, and tensions flared between Palestinian residents and Israeli troops at the scene. Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes and structures in the occupied West Bank, claiming they were built without permits. Palestinian and Israeli rights groups say Israeli authorities impose strict restrictions that prevent Palestinians from obtaining building permits, especially in

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  Second International Legal Conference launch initiative to defend the International Criminal Court

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  The Second International Legal Conference, held under the theme “Crimes of the Israeli Occupation in Palestine: Between Legal Accountability and Achieving Justice,” concluded in Istanbul this week after bringing together judges, lawyers, academics, international law experts, representatives of bar associations, and legal and human rights organisations from around the world. The conference was jointly organised by the Istanbul No. 2 Bar Association, the International Legal Coalition for Palestine, and the Jordanian Bar Association. Throughout its sessions, the conference addressed the crime of genocide in the Gaza Strip, war crimes and crimes against humanity, settlements and forced displacement, violations against Palestinian prisoners and detainees, the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC), universal jurisdiction as a tool of accountability, and the

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  Washington considers new measures to isolate the International Criminal Court and limit its operations

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering a broad range of measures aimed at diplomatically isolating the International Criminal Court (ICC) and limiting its ability to investigate or prosecute US and Israeli officials, according to US officials cited by Reuters. According to the report, the administration is weighing additional sanctions, travel restrictions, visa revocations, and diplomatic efforts to encourage countries to withdraw from the court or suspend financial support. A US State Department official told Reuters that the administration views the ICC as posing a threat to US sovereignty and is examining multiple options to counter its activities. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the ICC and its supporters are waging “a legal war” against the United

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  Katz boasts of Gaza’s destruction, says it is the result of a ‘well-thought-out policy’ and announces plan for three military outposts

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Israeli Defence Minister Yisrael Katz defended the widespread destruction in the Gaza Strip during a visit to northern Gaza on Sunday, describing it as “the result of a well-thought-out policy” and announcing plans to establish three military outposts inside the territory. In an interview broadcast Monday by Israel’s Channel 14, Katz was asked how he felt about the destruction in Gaza. He replied: “It feels good, doesn’t it?” adding that “all of this (destruction) is the result of a well-thought-out policy aimed at eliminating threats.” Katz said Israel had shifted from what he described as a strategy of temporary military raids to a more permanent presence. “Instead of the raid method—entering and exiting—the Israeli army is inside, the terrorists are

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  Israeli prison guard shoots Palestinian leader Marwan Barghouti in the leg, family says; prison service denies incident

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  The family of imprisoned Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti revealed that he was shot in the leg by an Israeli prison guard with a rubber-coated bullet while in custody. In a statement posted on Facebook, Fadwa Barghouti, his wife, said that a prison guard shot Barghouti in the leg last week, causing bleeding and a painful injury. She described the incident as part of what she called a pattern of ongoing assaults against him. Barghouti’s son, Arab Barghouti, told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the incident occurred at Ganot Prison in Israel’s Negev region and said his father had not received medical treatment for the injury. According to the family, they learned of the alleged incident through Barghouti’s lawyer, Avigdor Feldman,

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  Indonesia’s half-hearted response to Khamenei’s funeral undermines its own foreign policy

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Indonesia eventually sent Foreign Minister Sugiono and MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani to attend the funeral of Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It was the correct decision. But the way Jakarta arrived at that decision revealed a troubling lack of confidence in its own foreign policy. The problem was not that Indonesia attended. The problem was that it hesitated. Initially, Jakarta informed Tehran that Indonesia would be represented by its ambassador in Iran, Rolliansyah Soemirat. Only later did the government decide to send a higher-level delegation. Sugiono explained that Indonesia learned of Iran’s protocol requirements too late and that logistical constraints made an earlier decision difficult. That explanation may be reasonable. But diplomacy is not only about explaining decisions

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  ‘Palestine is disappearing’: Church backs genocide report despite Chief Rabbi’s bid to block debate

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  A detailed Palestinian Christian report documenting Israel’s genocide in Gaza, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians and Israel’s apartheid system will be discussed across the Church of England after its General Synod overwhelmingly backed engagement with the document, despite warnings from pro-Israel groups, including Britain’s chief rabbi, Sir Ephraim Mirvis. The Synod voted to stand in solidarity with Palestinian Christians and their fellow Palestinians. The motion encourages engagement at every level with the report A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide, also known as Kairos Palestine II, which describes Israel’s assault on Gaza as part of a continuing project to seize Palestinian land and ethnically cleanse its indigenous population. The Synod also committed the Church to hearing the

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  Brazil’s president criticises proposed US “Hormuz Tariff,” calls it “piracy”

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva criticised a proposal by US President Donald Trump to impose charges on goods passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying such a measure would amount to “piracy.” Speaking at a public event in São Paulo state on Monday, Lula said “In the past, that would have been considered piracy.” “The United States is an important country, and I believe it fought piracy for a long time. It cannot act like a pirate today” he added. Lula’s comments followed Trump’s announcement that the United States would seek to impose a 20 percent tariff on goods transported through the Strait of Hormuz while reimposing a naval blockade on Iran. According to Trump’s statement, the measure

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  Israeli settler claims ownership of Syrian territory, citing constant presence “day and night”

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  An Israeli settler has acknowledged that he and others are present in an area of southern Syria “day and night”, claiming it “belongs to the people of Israel according to the Holy Torah”. The remarks were carried by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation on Monday evening. The unnamed settler, who belongs to the Pioneers of Bashan movement, spoke from inside Syrian territory. The settler claimed that the Bashan region “belongs to the people of Israel according to the Holy Torah”. He also called for the Israeli military to remain in the area, saying: “There are military bases here and there, and we are here on the ground day and night.” In the Torah, “Bashan” refers to an area in southern

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  Tunisia: Rached Ghannouchi sentenced to 3 years in prison in case related to donation of Gandhi Peace Prize

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Tunisian judicial authorities have issued a final ruling sentencing Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda Movement and former Speaker of the Tunisian Parliament, to three years in prison in a case related to his donation of the Gandhi Peace and Tolerance Prize, which he received in 2016, to the Tunisian Red Crescent. The ruling is the latest in a series of legal cases involving Ghannouchi, who is already serving prison sentences in other cases as part of ongoing judicial proceedings involving several senior Ennahda figures. Since President Kais Saied announced exceptional measures in July 2021, Tunisian authorities have launched numerous investigations and prosecutions involving prominent political figures, including leaders of the Ennahda Movement. These cases have included allegations related to

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  Correcting a mistake, not retreating: Why ending the war could restore Trump’s credibility

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  As renewed U.S.-Iran clashes around the Strait of Hormuz threaten to unravel another diplomatic pause, an old Chinese proverb offers a useful warning: “You have never truly made a mistake unless you refuse to correct it.” This is more than a moral maxim; it is a principle of governance and statecraft. In politics, leaders are judged not by whether they make mistakes, but by how they respond to them. No president is immune from error, yet history tends to remember those who reassess their decisions before an initial miscalculation becomes an irreversible crisis. Today, more than four months after the United States launched its military campaign against Iran, President Donald Trump’s administration finds itself in strategic limbo. The situation can

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Elhanan Miller: Netanyahu: Gasping for Life, Will Another War Save Him?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 14, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Joe Macaron: Lebanon-Israel Framework Agreement, Who Won?

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  Will Syria’s first lady stand for justice or protect the shadow of the past? asks Yvonne Ridley in an open letter to Latifa al-Daroubi

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Dear Madam al-Daroubi, Assalamu Alaikum — Peace be upon you. You have been thrust from the shadows into the world’s most unforgiving spotlight, praised by those around you as a cultured, sophisticated and elegant woman. Your husband, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, introduced you to the world by stating proudly: “My only wife, and I love her very much.” Your peers celebrate you as the epitome of the traditional Syrian woman; not a submissive bystander, but the firm pillar of her family, an educated mother who plans, raises children and commands respect. However, as you step into the grand halls of power, I must ask you a question that echoes from the dark cells beneath your feet: what kind of pillar

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  The geopolitics of spare capacity: The hidden weapon in energy diplomacy

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  For decades, energy power has been measured by familiar metrics: the size of a country’s oil reserves, its daily production and the scale of its exports. These indicators continue to shape discussions about global energy politics. Yet they overlook a strategic capability that has become increasingly important in an era of geopolitical instability: the ability to increase production rapidly when the market needs it most. Recent crises have demonstrated that energy influence is no longer determined solely by how much oil a country possesses. It also depends on how quickly that country can respond when supply is disrupted. Reserves matter. But in a crisis, readiness matters more. This overlooked capability is known as spare production capacity—the ability of a producer

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  Iran urges Jordanians to seek removal of US bases after strike on air base

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it targeted a US air base in Jordan with ballistic missiles on Tuesday and called on the Jordanian people to demand the removal of American military bases from their country. According to the Iranian Fars news agency, the IRGC said in a statement that, during the third phase of the second wave of Operation Nasr 2, it launched ballistic missiles at what it described as key facilities and a US troop deployment at an air base in Jordan, which it said was being used to launch attaks against Iran. The statement added that the United States had used the same bases in what it described as an attack in which 186 children were

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  Iran’s oil exports top 80 million barrels in less than a month

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Iran exported more than 80 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products in the 26 days following the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington in Islamabad, according to TankerTrackers, a platform that monitors oil tanker movements. The platform said the exports are currently worth an estimated 6 billion US dollars, adding that around 30 million barrels of Iranian crude oil are still awaiting shipment. It also said that if any restrictions are imposed on Iran’s oil production, Tehran has access to around 60 million barrels of floating storage capacity in the region, which could provide a temporary solution for managing oil supplies. Estimates from tanker-tracking firms in recent months showed that Iran’s oil exports generally

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  Former Iranian President Ahmadinejad denies report alleging Mossad contacts

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Tuesday rejected a report by The New York Times alleging that Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency had sought to recruit him and that he is under house arrest, describing the claims as “completely false,” Anadolu reports. In a statement, Ahmadinejad’s office accused the newspaper of publishing fabricated reports to mislead public opinion and fuel internal divisions in Iran. The office also denied that Ahmadinejad is under house arrest, saying the allegation was fabricated to support what it described as the newspaper’s “absurd” claims. “We categorically reject all the completely false allegations promoted by The New York Times,” the statement said. The New York Times reported Monday that Mossad had attempted in recent years to persuade

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  Gulf countries condemn Iranian attacks on Emirati oil tankers in Hormuz

  by Marwa A on July 14, 2026

  Gulf countries on Tuesday condemned Iranian attacks on two Emirati oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the incident threatens regional stability, freedom of navigation and global energy security, Anadolu reports. The statements came after the United Arab Emirates said its oil tankers, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were struck by two cruise missiles while transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters. According to the UAE Foreign Ministry, one Indian crew member was killed and eight others were injured, including four seriously. The injured included six Indian nationals and two Ukrainian nationals. The ministry described the attack as a “flagrant violation” of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which emphasizes the protection of

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  Trump’s “Memorandum of Surrender”: The art of the deal meets the fact of defeat

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Donald Trump is not negotiating with Iran. He is negotiating with the humiliation of having failed to break it. Beneath the ceasefires, memoranda, podium theatrics and sanctimonious appeals to “stability” lies a fact Washington cannot admit: the United States entered this confrontation expecting submission and emerged confronting its own limits. It wanted Iran isolated, disarmed and politically obedient. It wanted its deterrence shattered, its regional influence dismantled and its sovereignty reduced to a flag, an anthem and nothing more. It failed. Iran endured the pressure, preserved its strategic leverage and forced the most powerful empire on earth to negotiate with the country it had promised to bring to its knees.  That is not an American victory. It is the management

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  Rivalries and anxieties: Reviving the Hejaz railway

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  History is not so much past as vigorously present, often a scab to be irritated in fitful anger, or a romantic affectation to be cherished.  When it comes to controlling trade and establishing new routes, this is particularly apt.  The Hejaz Railway project, seemingly long past, is now being dusted down.  In a June 9 memorandum of understanding signed between Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, a railway line is envisaged between the two countries that will traverse Jordan and Syria and create a strategic logistics artery linking the Gulf states to Europe. According to a media release from the Saudi Press Agency, the agreement will focus “on enhancing cooperation on railway standards, technologies, and related innovations, while facilitating the exchange of

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  US forces strike Iranian naval base with sea drones for first time: CENTCOM

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The US military’s Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Monday that its forces struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran using unmanned surface vessels for the first time in combat operations, Anadolu reports. “Yesterday, using multiple one-way attack surface drones, CENTCOM forces successfully struck a submarine and ship maintenance facility in Iran,” CENTCOM said in a post on US social media platform X. “Three Corsair unmanned surface vessels hit the port at Bandar Abbas Naval Base, marking the first time American forces have employed sea drones in combat operations.” “Last night’s strikes degraded Iran’s ability to continue attacking commercial shipping,” it added. CENTCOM also shared footage of the drone attack on the naval base. It comes amid ongoing military

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  Saudi air defenses intercept Houthi ballistic missiles amid Yemen tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  Saudi air defenses on Monday intercepted ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group from Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition supporting the internationally recognized Yemeni government said, Anadolu reports. The missiles targeted Saudi Arabia’s southern region, coalition spokesman Turki al-Malki said on the US social media company X. The attack came hours after Yemen’s Defense Ministry said its forces struck the Sanaa airport runway after the Houthis prevented Yemeni flights from landing and allowed an Iranian plane to land “in violation of the Yemeni territory.”​​​​​​​ Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree vowed that the strike “will not pass without retaliation and punishment.” Saree accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out the strike on Sanaa airport and declared that it ended the de-escalation and ceasefire

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  Britain joins EU-led Gaza recovery initiative with new funding pledge for humanitarian efforts

  by Mehdi Editor on July 13, 2026

  The UK will provide £10 million ($12 million) to support early recovery efforts in Gaza and join a new EU-led international initiative aimed at coordinating funding and practical assistance as Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper calls for renewed momentum behind the international 20-point Gaza peace plan, Anadolu reports. The government said in a statement Monday the funding would go to the UN Horizon Fund to support a Palestinian-led, UN-coordinated approach to early recovery. The program will focus on water and sanitation, healthcare, education, housing, debris clearance and reducing the risks posed by unexploded ordnance. The UK will also join the EU-led Team Gaza Initiative, a coalition of European and international partners designed to mobilize political support, funding and practical assistance for