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

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  Cryptocurrencies cannot circumvent sanctions: Bank of Israel responds to Netanyahu

  by Marwa A on October 25, 2026

  The Bank of Israel said Saturday that cryptocurrencies cannot be used to circumvent potential economic sanctions in response to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to prepare alternative financial arrangements, according to a media report. The public broadcaster said the central bank’s response followed Netanyahu’s interview on Friday with an Israeli business channel, during which he proposed using cryptocurrencies as part of contingency plans for possible economic and banking sanctions, Anadolu reports. The bank said cryptocurrencies “cannot be used as a route for bypassing sanctions,” according to the broadcaster. “The right thing for Israel’s economy is preserving the economic relationships with our principal trade partners and focusing on preventing sanctions and their negative influence on the economy,” said the bank. It

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  Terrorists in the West Bank: Settler violence and the excusing hand

  by Marwa A on October 25, 2026

  The persistent violence from Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the occupied territories of the West Bank has become such common fare it risks becoming banal. Unfortunately, it takes events such as those befalling veteran photojournalist Heidi Levine of The Washington Post and European diplomats to return the attention to something that is not only grotesque but programmatic. On 16th October, while covering the annual olive harvest in the West Bank Levine, fellow journalists and a group of Palestinians became the ripe targets of Israeli settlers.  The auguries of violence were already present: over the course of 24 days since the season commenced, 125 physical attacks on Palestinian olive harvesters had been reported.  After an initial gathering at a hilltop in

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  Chile passes law establishing annual day of friendship and solidarity with Palestine

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  Sixteen years after recognising the State of Palestine, Chile will mark its first official Day of Chilean-Palestinian Friendship and Solidarity on 7th January 2027, following the passage of a new law celebrating the historic ties between the two peoples. Published in Chile’s Official Gazette on Thursday, 22nd October 2026, Law No. 21,843 officially designates 7 January as an annual day of friendship and solidarity with Palestine. The move also reaffirms Chile’s commitment to Palestinian human rights, going beyond a symbolic celebration of the longstanding relationship between the two countries. The move goes beyond celebrating the historic friendship between the two peoples. It also reaffirms Chile’s commitment to protecting human rights, particularly those of the Palestinian people, in line with UN

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  Gwadar in the Regional Energy Equation: Strategic Opportunity or Costly Promise for Pakistan?

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  Marine bunkering services have begun at Gwadar. Meanwhile, according to reporting in June 2026, the proposed $10 billion Saudi refinery announced for the port in 2019 had yet to attract the promised investment. These contrasting experiences raise a fundamental question: where should Pakistan begin with Gwadar’s development? The strongest starting point is commercial activity with existing customers and measurable revenue. That can provide a foundation for larger investments. Pakistani fuel, a new market According to a July 2026 announcement by Pakistan’s Port Community System, Gwadar’s inaugural commercial bunkering operation delivered 2,500 tonnes of very low sulphur fuel oil produced by Cnergyico. Vitol conducted the operation with Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation (NLC). Cnergyico’s coastal refining complex is located in Hub, Balochistan.

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  Amnesty Indonesia is right, the Foreign Ministry is wrong: Quit Trump’s Board of Peace

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  On Thursday, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry defended the country’s seat on the Board of Peace. Ministry spokesperson Vahd Nabyl Mulachela said joining the Board is part of Indonesia’s effort to support Palestine and help rebuild Gaza. He hoped the Board could lead to an independent Palestine living next to Israel. He was answering Amnesty International Indonesia. A day earlier, its director, Usman Hamid, said the Board was a mistake from the very beginning and that Indonesia still has time to leave. He spoke in Jakarta after an event with Francesca Albanese, the United Nations expert on the occupied Palestinian territories. Usman said the Board is controlled by the United States, a country that fully supports Israel and its military campaign that

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  Elections must not deflect attention from Israel’s international crimes, rights group warns

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  Amnesty International on Saturday warned that upcoming elections must not deflect attention from Israel’s international crimes, urging continued scrutiny and accountability, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Erika Guevara Rosas, Amnesty International’s senior director for research, policy, advocacy and campaigns, said Palestinians have little reason to expect the outcome to deliver positive human rights change as much of the world’s attention focuses on Israel’s upcoming parliamentary elections on Oct. 27. Explaining this, she pointed out that electoral candidates have “shamelessly exploited” anti-Palestinian sentiment or even threatened to step up human rights violations and crimes under international law in a bid to score political points. “Candidates have used dehumanizing rhetoric against Palestinians, promised to further entrench Israel’s illegal annexation measures in the

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  Iraq says no US troops left in the country, not even advisers

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  Iraq’s prime minister said Friday that no US troops are left in the country, including in advisory roles, as Baghdad moves to bring all weapons under state control by next June, Anadolu reports. Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that the absence of foreign forces had removed the justification armed factions previously cited for retaining their weapons. He stressed that the government’s decision to restrict weapons to state institutions was final and irreversible. “By June 30, 2027, there will be no weapons outside the framework of the state,” he said. Al-Zaidi said the government reached agreements concerning weapons held by three armed factions and is negotiating with four others to complete the process. “Iraq is a state

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  2 children killed, 3 civilians wounded in Houthi attacks in Yemen’s Taiz: Rights group

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  Two children were killed, three civilians wounded and four people abducted in Houthi attacks in Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province over 24 hours, a rights group said Saturday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Yemen Network for Rights and Freedoms said it had “documented 21 crimes and violations by the Houthis over the past 24 hours in Taiz governorate,” including the firing of around 213 projectiles at residential areas. “Three civilians, including two women, sustained various injuries, while four other residents were abducted and taken to unknown locations,” the group said. The network also accused the Houthis of continuing their siege and restrictions on civilian movement and the delivery of essential supplies. It said the Houthis raided and looted three homes

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  Israeli army continues Hebron siege for 2nd day, arrests 19 Palestinians in West Bank

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  The Israeli army continued its siege of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank for a second consecutive day on Saturday, forcing dozens of Palestinians from their homes, according to Palestinian media, Anadolu reports. Israeli forces raided the al-Jilda and Deir Bahha areas in central Hebron and placed them under a complete siege, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. The army also forced dozens of residents to leave their homes and stand outdoors in the early morning hours, according to the news agency. The incursion involved the deployment of additional military vehicles and bulldozers, the closure of main entrances and roads leading to Hebron, and the isolation of the city from surrounding areas, Wafa said. It said Israeli forces

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  Saudi Arabia says danger has passed in 4 areas after warning alerts

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense announced Saturday that danger has passed in four areas of the kingdom following earlier alerts warning of a “potential danger,”  Anadolu reports. The all-clear covered the Jeddah, Taif and Yanbu governorates, as well as Mecca province, according to statements issued by the Civil Defense on US social media platform X. The agency urged people to follow its instructions and “avoid gathering and filming” in the affected areas. The warnings came amid escalating hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group, including missile and drone attacks targeting the kingdom. The new Arab bargain: When Egypt offers to protect Saudi Arabia

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  Jordan declares 3 days of mourning after church attack kills 8 in Karak

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  Jordan declared three days of national mourning Friday for the victims of a terrorist attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud village in the southern Karak governorate that killed eight people, Anadolu reports. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan issued a directive declaring nationwide mourning starting Oct. 23, 2026, and ordering flags to be lowered to half-staff at ministries, government departments and public institutions. The government said the decision reflected “the grief of all Jordanians and their solidarity in this painful tragedy,” offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Government spokesman and Communications Minister Mohammad Momani attributed the attack to “extremist takfiri ideology,” which brands others as unbelievers. He said investigators were still examining whether

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  Pakistan can mediate between Washington and Tehran, but it cannot manufacture trust

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  When Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, met Iranian leaders in Tehran last Tuesday, he heard a familiar message in a harder form. President Masoud Pezeshkian said Washington must lift sanctions and pressure before talks resume. Security chief Mohsen Rezaei said no enriched material would leave Iran. After Munir left, a Qatari delegation arrived, a reminder that Islamabad no longer carries this file alone. The real test is not whether Pakistan can soften Tehran’s opening position. It is whether it can help two adversaries negotiate commitments neither believes the other will honour. The Islamabad Memorandum, signed on 17 June, extended the ceasefire for 60 days and promised to reopen Hormuz and lift the US blockade. It also pledged oil-export

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  Trump’s Iran pause is for November

  by Marwa A on October 24, 2026

  President Trump’s pre-midterm pause on strikes against Iran landed as a claim of diplomatic momentum, not a concession of failure. The pause was framed as proof that negotiations are working. Look closer, and a different mechanism appears. The war meant to project strength has become an electoral liability, and the president’s response is to bury its most visible costs until voters have finished deciding. Then the option can reopen. The White House insists Washington is negotiating from strength. Military options remain on the table. The blockade stays in force. The administration has not ended the war, only hidden its sharpest edges from the campaign season. That sequence matters. It allows Republican candidates to campaign without the immediate risk of new

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  Yemen’s peace process has a structural blind spot: The south’s political future

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  Yemen’s prolonged conflict is frequently discussed through the familiar language of ceasefires, military de-escalation, humanitarian assistance and negotiations between the principal armed parties. These are important elements of any effort to end the war. Yet they do not fully explain why successive political initiatives have struggled to establish a durable settlement. The deeper problem is structural: Yemen’s crisis is not simply a contest over who controls the central government. It is also a dispute over the nature of the state, the distribution of political authority and the future status of its different regions. Among these questions, the Southern Question remains one of the most consequential and least adequately resolved. A peace process that postpones this question risks producing an agreement

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  The new Arab bargain: When Egypt offers to protect Saudi Arabia

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  When Egyptian officials signalled their readiness to support Saudi Arabia against attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, the announcement was presented as a familiar display of Arab solidarity. Yet beneath the diplomatic rhetoric lies a much more significant story, one that says less about military cooperation and more about the changing balance of power in the Middle East. The immediate question appears straightforward: What kind of protection can Egypt realistically offer Saudi Arabia? The more important question is whether Egypt’s offer reveals that the traditional hierarchy of the Arab world has been quietly reversed. For decades, Egypt occupied a unique position in Arab politics. It was the state that projected military weight, diplomatic influence, and cultural authority across the region. Saudi

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  Iran’s new military doctrine is designed to make victory meaningless

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  Iran’s latest military doctrine rests on a dangerous proposition: a country does not have to defeat a superior enemy on the battlefield to deny it a meaningful victory. By threatening broader retaliation, expanding the geography of conflict and exploiting vulnerabilities in regional trade, Tehran is attempting to make the political rewards of military action increasingly difficult to secure. On Oct. 21, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that Iran’s military doctrine would move beyond retaliatory strikes towards offensive and asymmetric operations. The declaration reinforced earlier statements by Iranian military officials that the country was shifting away from a predominantly defensive posture. Although official announcements do not establish how comprehensively this change has been implemented, they reveal the direction in

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  A cable across contested waters: The great sea interconnector’s promise and risks

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  A seabed survey is usually an engineering step. For the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), it has become a test of how far Greece, Cyprus and Türkiye can manage their maritime dispute without letting it derail a major infrastructure project. In mid-October 2026, the GSI developer applied to resume surveys for the planned undersea electricity cable linking Greece and Cyprus, with a possible extension to Israel. Türkiye says the survey area overlaps with claims set out in its 2019 maritime agreement with Libya. Greece says it can proceed. The application has brought that agreement back into focus because someone must map the seabed before the cable route can be finalized and the parties disagree over who has the right to do

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  3 Palestinians killed, others injured in fresh Israeli attacks on Gaza

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  Three Palestinians were killed and others injured in Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip on Friday as violations of the October 2025 ceasefire continue unabated, Anadolu reports. Two Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike targeting a motorcycle in the al-Nasr neighborhood, west of Gaza City, medical sources told Anadolu. In a separate incident, the sources said several Palestinians were wounded in a strike on Gaza City’s al-Rimal neighborhood. On Friday morning, another Palestinian was killed and others injured when a drone targeted a bicycle on al-Qubba Street in the al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, a medical source and local sources told Anadolu. Meanwhile, the Israeli army expanded the areas under its control east of al-Masdar

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  Turkish foreign minister warns new attack on Iran would escalate regional conflict

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  The Turkish foreign minister warned on Friday that a new attack on Iran would further spread war and conflict across the region, Anadolu reports. “Military intervention in Iran is by no means a solution. No one supports this at the moment,” Hakan Fidan told reporters after an R4+E3 meeting in Istanbul, the first-ever meeting in this format. The US and Israel are said to have developed plans for renewed strikes against Iran after the American midterm elections. The war that began in late February has yet to be settled despite a ceasefire and a memorandum of understanding to finalize a peace deal. Speaking on the Russia-Ukraine war, Fidan said: “Either the war must stop, or, if it does not, parties

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  UN rights chief ‘strongly’ condemns surge in drone strikes across Sudan

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Friday “strongly” condemned the escalation of drone attacks across Sudan, which have killed at least 306 people and injured hundreds more in the first three weeks of October, Anadolu reports. “The increasing use of drones, already accounting for the majority of conflict-related civilian deaths in Sudan this year, is deeply disturbing and is exacting a horrifying toll,” Turk said. “Scores of civilians have been killed and vital infrastructure and services on which they depend eviscerated, driving further displacement and deepening the already severe humanitarian crisis,” he said, reiterating his call on the parties to the conflict to respect their obligations under international law. Turk said his office had documented strikes attributed to both

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  Israeli airstrikes, artillery shelling hit southern Lebanon amid intensified drone activity

  by Marwa A on October 23, 2026

  Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon on Friday, while drones flew intensively at low altitude over the capital Beirut and the southern city of Tyre, Lebanese state media reported, Anadolu reports. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA) said Israeli fighter jets struck the vicinity of Ali al-Taher hill on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa in the Nabatieh district. The agency reported intermittent Israeli artillery shelling near the town of Zawtar al-Sharqiya in the same district before noon. In Kfar Shouba, in the Hasbaya district, an Israeli drone dropped a stun grenade in the Khallet Zuhair area on the outskirts of the town. The agency also said Israeli forces carried out a large explosion overnight in

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  Saudi Arabia postpones UN data, Saudi statistics forums until 2027 amid Houthi attacks

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Saudi Arabia announced Friday that the UN World Data Forum and the Saudi Statistics Forum, scheduled for November in Riyadh, have been postponed until 2027, Anadolu reports. The Saudi General Authority for Statistics said in a statement on US social media company X that the decision was made “in coordination with the United Nations Statistics Division.” Both forums were due to take place from Nov. 9 to 12. New dates will be announced later through official channels, it added. The authority said the postponement reflects its commitment to delivering an experience that meets the expectations of the data and statistics community and enables broad international participation by speakers, experts and partners. READ: Saudi Arabia postpones future investment initiative until 2027 following

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  Brent crude hits highest since June 2022 on fears of renewed US strikes on Iran

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Oil prices rose on Friday as fears of renewed US strikes on Iran and escalating regional tensions heightened supply concerns, pushing Brent crude to its highest level since June 2022, Anadolu reports. International benchmark Brent climbed 2.7%, or $3.06, to $116.20 per barrel as of 1350GMT, surpassing the peak recorded at the start of the war. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) advanced 3.04%, or $3.02, to $102.50 per barrel, its highest level in five weeks. Brent has gained around 5% this week, while WTI has risen about 3%, putting both benchmarks on course for a third consecutive weekly advance. The rally came as expectations grew that Washington could resume strikes against Iran in the coming weeks. READ: Trump accuses Iran

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  Iranian army orders ground forces to maintain highest combat readiness amid tensions with US

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Iran’s Army Ground Forces commander Brig. Gen. Jahanshahi has ordered military unit commanders to maintain the highest level of combat readiness, warning that negligence during wartime could have serious consequences, Tasnim news agency reported Friday. “In wartime conditions, any negligence or carelessness can carry heavy costs,” Jahanshahi said, according to Tasnim. He stressed that maintaining effective operational readiness requires continuous training, accurate assessments of military capabilities, coordination among units and the rapid identification and correction of shortcomings. Jahanshahi also instructed commanders at all levels to strengthen combat capabilities through careful planning, continuous supervision and effective follow-up. The remarks come amid heightened military tensions between Iran and the US following months of hostilities and ongoing disputes over security and maritime navigation

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  Israeli elections: Arab voters weigh participation against abstention in bid to oust Netanyahu

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Amid fears over hardline Israeli policies, Palestinian citizens of Israel see the upcoming Israeli elections as a chance for change, with calls for higher Arab turnout to prevent incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from forming another government, Anadolu reports. In a series of field interviews conducted by Anadolu on the streets of various Arab cities and towns in Israel, citizens emphasized that participating in this election is particularly crucial, given the “worsening racism and marginalization” against them. While some plan to vote for the first time in hopes of bringing about political change, others continue to abstain, questioning whether elections can alter their circumstances and arguing that successive governments have failed to address their demands. Arab citizens make up

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  Lewis Hamilton calls for freedom for Palestine, Congo, Sudan and Syria

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton has called for efforts to secure freedom for Palestine, Congo, Sudan and Syria, saying he hoped peace would eventually prevail, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference Thursday ahead of the US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, the British driver said: “I think we need to make sure we’re pushing to free Congo, free Sudan, free Syria, free Palestine. I think there’s a lot of peace that I’m hoping we get to at some stage.” Hamilton made the remarks while discussing Formula 1’s planned return to Africa and concerns surrounding Rwanda, which is expected to host a Grand Prix on a purpose-built circuit in the early 2030s. The 41-year-old said holding a race in the country

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  Poll shows Netanyahu’s bloc losing 3 seats as opposition leads with 54 to 48 ahead of Israeli elections

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  A recent Israeli opinion poll published Friday showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc losing three seats ahead of the upcoming legislative elections, falling to 48 seats compared with 54 for the Jewish opposition bloc, Anadolu reports. The poll’s results were published by the Maariv newspaper four days before the election scheduled for Oct. 27. Neither bloc would be able to form a government based on the projected results. According to the poll, Netanyahu’s bloc lost three seats compared with the last week’s, in which it was projected to win 51 seats. The poll found that Netanyahu’s bloc would secure 48 seats if elections were held today, including 19 for his Likud party, seven for Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Jewish Power party, seven

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  Yemeni army says over 35 Houthi fighters killed or wounded in Taiz

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Yemen’s army said Friday that more than 35 fighters of the Houthi group were killed or wounded in a military operation targeting the group’s positions in southwestern Taiz province, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the army’s 35th Armored Brigade said its forces carried out a “swift and targeted operation” against Houthi positions and fortifications along the Aqrouz front in the Al-Misrakh district. It said the operation targeted positions at Jabal Al-Manara, Kour, Wadi Kour, Al-Maqda, Al-Dabaya and Kahlan, leaving “more than 35 Houthi fighters killed or wounded.” The statement did not specify the number of fatalities or injuries. The operation also disabled a military vehicle equipped with weapons and destroyed Houthi fortifications at the targeted sites, it added. The Houthis

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  Israeli army claims 2 soldiers killed in occupied West Bank shooting

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  The Israeli army claimed Friday that two soldiers had been killed and three others seriously wounded in a shooting attack in the city of Hebron, the southern occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The army’s statement came hours after two Palestinians were killed in a shootout with Israeli forces following allegations that they had opened fire at Israeli occupiers in Hebron, wounding five. Three other soldiers were also moderately wounded, according to the army. READ: Israeli army detains 11 international activists supporting Palestinian olive harvest in West Bank Following the reported shooting, the Israeli army announced a full closure of Hebron and several surrounding towns. The occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, has witnessed an escalation in Israeli military operations and occupier

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  Turkish foreign minister meets British, Pakistani counterparts in Istanbul

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on Friday held separate meetings with his British and Pakistani counterparts in Istanbul, Anadolu reports. Fidan held separate talks with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband and Pakistani Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Turkish social media platform NSosyal. No further details of the meetings have been provided. READ: Turkey’s Fidan meets new Hamas political chief Khalil al-Hayya on first foreign visit since election

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  US Judge orders Trump to answer questions under oath for his $10 billion BBC lawsuit

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  A federal judge in Florida has ordered US President Donald Trump to answer questions under oath by Dec. 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC, or risk having the case dismissed, Anadolu reports. US Magistrate Judge Enjolique Lett issued the order Thursday after the BBC’s lawyers accused Trump of delaying the process. Trump was scheduled to give a deposition on Oct. 16 but canceled, citing a “matter of national importance,” according to NBC News. BBC attorney Charles Tobin dismissed that explanation as “fake news,” arguing that Trump had attended a political rally and fundraiser instead. “He was participating in party politics and supported his candidates in the election, and he prioritized that over his obligations in this

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  Israeli premier orders ‘closure’ of Hebron, ‘full lockdown’ of occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday ordered an “immediate closure” of the city of Hebron and instructed security forces to prepare for a “full lockdown” across the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The move followed a shooting that wounded five Israeli occupiers and the killing of two Palestinians by Israeli army fire near the town of Halhul in the Hebron district of the southern West Bank. “I instructed the Israeli army and security agencies to impose an immediate closure on Hebron and prepare for a comprehensive lockdown across Judea and Samaria (the West Bank), starting today (Friday),” he said in a statement. Netanyahu said he had held a security assessment with senior defense and security officials, including the military

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  Turkiye continues efforts to pave way for peace across regions: President

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Turkiye continues striving to pave the way for peace across a vast region, from Russia-Ukraine prisoner exchanges to mediation efforts in Africa, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday, Anadolu reports. In a video message to the 9th Istanbul Mediation Conference, Erdogan stressed that diplomacy remains possible even amid the most challenging conflicts. “There is always a door open to diplomacy, even in the most difficult disputes,” he said, adding that the key is demonstrating “the will, courage and sincerity to keep that door open.” Erdogan said Turkiye remains committed to diplomacy despite increasing global conflicts, escalating tensions, and declining trust in international institutions. READ: Erdogan: Turkey emerges as global defence player He also criticized the structure of the international system,

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  Trump accuses Minnesota congresswoman of identity fraud, calls for her resignation

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  US President Donald Trump called Thursday for Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s resignation from Congress, accusing her of using a false name when she was sworn into office, an allegation her office has denied, Anadolu reports. “Because she used a fake name to be sworn in, I assume she must IMMEDIATELY resign from Congress,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. Trump claimed the Minnesota lawmaker’s real name was Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, which shares a surname with her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. He further claimed that Omar had “openly admitted to FRAUD” and called on House Speaker Mike Johnson to recognize that her congressional seat had been vacated. READ: Trump accuses Iran of driving up oil prices ahead of

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  Racism controversy erupts in Israeli election campaign after broadcaster calls Eisenkot a ‘monkey’

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  A racism controversy has emerged ahead of Israel’s 27th October parliamentary elections after a television broadcaster supportive of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to his political rival, Gadi Eisenkot, as a “monkey,” reigniting debate over ethnic discrimination against Mizrahi Jews. Eisenkot, a former Israeli military chief of staff of Moroccan descent who leads the Yashar party, has emerged as a leading contender in election polls, raising the possibility that he could become Israel’s first prime minister of Mizrahi origin. During a program broadcast on the pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, presenter Yinon Magal described Eisenkot as a “monkey” and suggested that he was being controlled by members of the Ashkenazi political establishment. Magal claimed that Eisenkot’s campaign manager, Ronen Manelis, was directing

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  Israeli army detains 11 international activists supporting Palestinian olive harvest in West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Israeli forces detained 11 international solidarity activists on Thursday while they were helping Palestinian farmers harvest olives in the village of Al-Buwaib, south of Hebron in the occupied West Bank, according to a Palestinian volunteer campaign. The Fazaa campaign said in a statement that the activists had been held since Thursday morning, without Israeli authorities providing an explanation for their detention. According to the campaign, the detainees include nationals of Italy, Germany, the United States, Britain and Australia. The campaign also reported that Italy’s Foreign Ministry had confirmed that four Italian women were among those detained and had contacted Israeli authorities to seek clarification about the circumstances of their detention. READ: Italy seeks clarification after Israel detains Italian activists in occupied

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  Ben-Gvir expands firearm license eligibility to 11 West Bank settlements, drawing Hamas condemnation

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has approved an expansion of firearm license eligibility to residents of 11 Israeli settlements and outposts in the occupied West Bank, prompting condemnation from Hamas amid escalating settler violence against Palestinians. According to Israel’s Channel 14, the decision adds 11 settlements and outposts in the northern West Bank to the list of locations whose residents are eligible to apply for firearm permits. The measure is intended to strengthen security preparedness within the settlements by allowing eligible residents to apply for licenses to carry firearms. In a statement issued Thursday, Hamas condemned the decision, describing it as an “explicit call for killing and displacement” of Palestinians. READ: Two Palestinians injured in settler attack as women detained

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with John Kiriakou: Mossad US Operations: How Extensive and Long-Running?

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Craig Murray: Should the UK deploy the Royal Navy to Bab Al-Mandeb?

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  Netanyahu says he is personally working to ‘relocate’ Palestinians from Gaza, in talks with potential host countries

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that he is personally working to facilitate the departure of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and is holding discussions with countries that could potentially receive them, while reaffirming Israel’s intention to maintain military control over more than 60 percent of the territory. In an interview with the right-wing Israeli outlet Channel 7, ahead of the 27th October Knesset elections, Netanyahu said his government was actively exploring arrangements for Palestinians to leave Gaza. “Every Palestinian in Gaza should have the freedom to leave,” Netanyahu said, identifying the main obstacle as finding countries willing to accept them. “We are working on this; I am personally working on it quite diligently. There are some initial developments,

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  Russia rejects Netanyahu’s accusations of involvement in antisemitic online campaign

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Russia has rejected accusations by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning Moscow’s alleged involvement in an antisemitic online campaign, Anadolu agency reported. The Russian Foreign Ministry told state news agency Tass on Thursday that it was “perplexed” by the “entirely unsubstantiated accusations,” saying attempts to claim Moscow operated such a campaign appeared “particularly absurd.” It said that this is so, “given a fact well known to – and repeatedly acknowledged in public by – the Israeli side, that thanks to the Russian leadership’s policy of strengthening interethnic peace and harmony, manifestations of antisemitism in our country are virtually non-existent.” On Sunday, Israel’s i24 News reported that Netanyahu, in response to a question from the news channel, accused Russia of “aiding

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  UNICEF says 351 children killed in Gaza since October 2025 ceasefire

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said Thursday that 351 Palestinian children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the ceasefire took effect in October 2025, calling on Israeli authorities to take urgent measures to protect children and ensure accountability for civilian casualties. In a statement reported by the Palestinian news agency Wafa, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Edward Bagbyder urged Israeli authorities to conduct transparent and rigorous investigations into cases involving the killing or serious injury of children, including injuries resulting in permanent disabilities. Bagbyder said eight children had been killed and 20 others injured over the past six days, underscoring the continued dangers facing children despite the ceasefire. He called for effective

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  Egypt will not accept any division or fragmentation of Sudan

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Egypt will not accept any division or fragmentation of Sudan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said, reaffirming Cairo’s longstanding position on the Sudanese crisis. He made the remarks on Wednesday during a high-level session entitled “Homeland and Citizen Security” on the third day of the Egypt Forum 2026. The Sudanese crisis was discussed as part of broader talks on regional and security threats along Egypt’s borders. Abdelatty stressed that the conflict in Sudan is directly linked to Egypt’s national security, describing Sudan as the country’s strategic depth to the south. He also cited Sudan as a key example of the dangers of national institutions collapsing in favour of parallel entities and militias, the main focus of the session. READ: Sudan’s Burhan

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  9,400 Palestinian prisoners face winter without clothes or blankets in Israeli prisons

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Around 9,400 Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons are facing worsening conditions as winter approaches, with clothing, winter blankets and heating still denied to them for more than three years, the Palestine Centre for Prisoners Studies has warned. The centre said living and health conditions in prisons and detention centres were deteriorating. Its director, Riyad al-Ashqar, said Israeli authorities had continued to prevent prisoners from obtaining clothes and blankets since 7 October 2023, while visits had been suspended and prison canteens, where prisoners used to buy basic necessities, had been closed. READ: UN: 950,000 displaced people in Gaza face flood risks this winter In a statement, al-Ashqar said Israeli authorities had also barred international organisations, including the International Committee of the Red

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  Damascus court sentences Bashar al-Assad to death over orders linked to crimes against Syrians

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Bashar al-Assad, Syria’s former president, was sentenced to death after evidence established his direct involvement in issuing orders to field operatives who committed crimes against the Syrian people, the head of Damascus’s Fourth Criminal Court said on Thursday. Judge Fakhr al-Din al-Aryan made the remarks in a statement to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). He said the court based its ruling on evidence establishing Assad’s responsibility through the chain of command and orders, as well as documentation of his direct involvement in issuing orders from the top of the hierarchy to those carrying them out on the ground. Al-Aryan stressed that the sentence was not handed down simply because Assad had served as president. READ: Syria arrests 5 former Assad

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  Italy seeks clarification after Israel detains Italian activists in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Italy’s Foreign Ministry on Thursday demanded “urgent clarification” from Israeli authorities over the detention of several Italian activists in the occupied West Bank. In a statement, the ministry said the Italian nationals were detained alongside other international activists in the village of al-Buweib, south of Hebron, while accompanying Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest. The ministry said it had so far received confirmation that the Italian women were being held at a police station. Israeli authorities had informed it that four Italian nationals were being held. READ: Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier

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  Israeli elections and the limits of change

  by EditorMehdi on October 23, 2026

  Israel’s forthcoming elections on 27th October, the first since the events of 7th October three years ago and their aftermath, are taking place amid deep polarisation and fierce competition among rival political currents. Issues dividing groups of differing orientations, successive last-minute surprises and opinion poll findings all underscore the complexity of the political landscape. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party have seen their standing decline, the standing of the right wing has not declined. Depending on the projected electoral outcomes, change could bring de-escalation in the occupied Palestinian territory, but it would not guarantee a fundamental shift in Israel’s occupation policies towards the Palestinians more broadly. Palestinian votes within Israel could weaken the electoral position of Netanyahu,

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  Israeli attacks kill 4 Palestinians, including girl, in Gaza amid ceasefire violations

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Israeli strikes and gunfire across the Gaza Strip killed four Palestinians, including a girl, and injured more than 19 others on Thursday amid continued violations of an effective ceasefire agreement, medics said. In the latest attack, a Palestinian was killed when an Israeli drone struck an electric bicycle west of the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, a medical source said. Another Palestinian was killed and others were injured, one seriously, when an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle in the Tel al-Hawa neighborhood southwest of Gaza City, the source said. In the northern Gaza Strip, Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian girl in the head in Jabalia, a medical source told Anadolu. In southern Gaza, another

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  Lebanese president warns regional tensions could spiral into wider escalation

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun warned Thursday that the region faces “very significant” challenges, expressing hope they would not lead to escalation or an “explosion,” Anadolu reports. Aoun made the warning while chairing a Cabinet session at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, attended by Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, according to a statement from the Lebanese presidency. “The challenges facing the region are very significant, and I hope their course will not lead toward escalation or explosion,” Aoun said. He urged parties in Lebanon to “exercise wisdom, awareness and restraint” to shield the country from the impact of regional developments, noting that Lebanon is already suffering from difficult economic conditions. “This requires everyone, ministers and political officials, to act wisely

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  Qatar, US discuss regional de-escalation, maritime navigation

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani discussed regional developments and efforts to reduce tensions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call Thursday, according to Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said the two officials reviewed bilateral relations and ways to strengthen the strategic partnership between Qatar and the US. The discussions also addressed the latest regional developments, particularly ongoing diplomatic efforts and joint coordination to de-escalate tensions and enhance regional security and stability. READ: Qatari emir wants ‘regional system of collective security’ During the call, Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Qatar’s support for diplomatic initiatives aimed at reaching a solution that guarantees freedom of maritime navigation and paves the

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  Indian, Israeli premiers discuss Mideast situation, bilateral ties over phone

  by EditorMehdi on October 22, 2026

  In a Thursday phone call, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu discussed bilateral ties and the situation in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. “The two leaders welcomed the sustained momentum in India-Israel relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries,” said a statement by Modi’s office. New Delhi said the leaders also “exchanged views on recent developments” in the Middle East and “underscored the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region. “ Modi reiterated India’s “call for dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward,” the statement said. READ: Israeli opposition leaders accuse Netanyahu of clinging to power at country’s expense “The two leaders agreed