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

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  Iran plans to sell US, Israeli vessels seized in Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Iran said Tuesday that US- and Israeli-linked commercial vessels seized during the war in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf will be sold with the proceeds distributed to families affected by the conflict. Hassan Abdollianpour, head of the judiciary’s Center for Lawyers, said a number of US and Israeli vessels had been seized in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf “under judicial rulings,” according to the Mizan News Agency. READ: Iran threatens US with new weapons, new targets If US attacks “The proceeds from the sale of these vessels will be used for individuals and families affected by the recent war,” Abdollianpour said. Experts had begun assessing damage caused by US attacks in the southern Hormozgan province and surrounding

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  Qatar PM calls for Gulf security framework with Iran, says war must be ‘wake-up call’

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has called for a new regional security framework that brings Gulf states and Iran together, warning that the region cannot go back to how it was before the US-Israeli war on Iran. “Iran is our neighbour,” Sheikh Al Thani told the Qatar Economic Forum in New York on Sunday. “We have to act together responsibly as a region and to make sure that we are having good relations with Iran.” He said the region could not return to how things were before the war unless Gulf states and Iran agreed a security framework ensuring that none of them posed a threat to the others. “We are hoping this

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  How silencing dynamics work in the international arena

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  For the second consecutive year Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a visa to travel to the US to attend the UN General Assembly. According to the US State Department, sanctions were extended due to “their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace.” If the PA cannot be faulted on one thing, it is its unfortunate commitment to international impositions and the two-state diplomacy. As Abbas has discovered, even blind adherence to the two-state is not enough to guarantee visibility in the international arena. The EU opposed the US decision, as did the UN. In a brief statement, EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anouar

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  Chile’s envoy to Israel at center of political storm over remarks about Palestinians

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Chile’s push to rebuild closer ties with Israel is facing a domestic political test after controversial remarks by its ambassador in Tel Aviv, Gabriel Zaliasnik, angered the country’s large Palestinian community and raised questions over the government’s foreign policy. The dispute has now reached parliament. On 8th September, the Chamber of Deputies approved an interpellation of Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna by 57 votes to 49, with one abstention. The session is scheduled for 28th September, when Socialist lawmaker Nelson Venegas is expected to question the minister over Zaliasnik’s remarks, the government’s response, and its decision to keep the ambassador in his post. The controversy began after Zaliasnik appeared in late August on the programme “Defending Israel”, hosted by David

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  The Iran War comes home before the midterms

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  On September 15, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the conflict with Iran had cost the Department of Defense about $38 billion as of August 1. The report also traced consequences beyond military operations, including depleted missile-defense stocks and higher energy prices. As the 2026 midterms approach, it documents how a war overseas has become part of domestic economic life. The midterms are not a formal referendum on the war. Americans will be choosing lawmakers rather than voting directly on continued military involvement. Yet the conflict is already before Congress, and its domestic costs are becoming clearer through federal estimates and reports from businesses affected by higher fuel prices. The $38 billion estimate includes replacing expended munitions and equipment lost

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  Erdogan: Turkey emerges as global defence player

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey has become a widely recognised force in the defence industry, both in the region and around the world, thanks to its achievements in the sector. Erdogan made the remarks during an event titled “100 Years of Friendship: Turkey-US” in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. “Thanks to dialogue with the United States, we are achieving positive results for both countries on many issues, particularly in the Middle East,” Erdogan said. He added: “We have no intention whatsoever of separating our strategic relations with the United States from our economic and trade relations.” Erdogan said Turkey had succeeded in maintaining and strengthening its position as an island of stability

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  Man who claimed Mossad and CIA told him to shoot Palestinian students convicted of attempted murder

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  A jury in the US state of Vermont has found Jason Eaton guilty of three counts of attempted second-degree murder for shooting three Palestinian students as they walked near his Burlington home in November 2023. Jurors rejected his defence that he was legally insane at the time. The verdict came yesterday after a week-long trial in Chittenden Superior Court. The three victims, Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid, testified, as did psychiatric experts called by the defence and prosecution. Eaton, 51, did not dispute that he was the gunman. Eaton faces up to life in prison without parole on each count. He remains in custody, and a sentencing date has yet to be set. His lawyers said he had

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  Araghchi urges Washington to break free from Israeli lobby, calls Netanyahu a “snake”

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Israeli lobby was becoming increasingly open about its role and influence over US policy towards Iran, urging Washington to “break free” from its constraints. Araghchi made the comments in response to an article published by the Israel Hayom newspaper, noting that the newspaper is owned by Miriam Adelson, the spokesperson for this lobby. “The Israel lobby is getting less shy about its grip on US policy toward Iran. In Miriam Adelson’s publication, the Lobby’s loudspeaker says US policy must ensure America pays a price for any slight against Israel,” Araghchi said on X. He added: “High time for Washington to break free from these shackles.” Araghchi also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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  Israeli newspaper says Netanyahu’s plane may avoid New York airport amid concerns over Mamdani

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  An Israeli newspaper reported on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane will not land at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York during his visit to the United States on Thursday, amid concerns that Mayor Zohran Mamdani could order the plane to leave immediately. Yedioth Ahronoth said Netanyahu’s plane, Israel’s official state aircraft, Wing of Zion, is expected to land at a military base in New Jersey or at Newark Liberty International Airport instead of JFK Airport in New York. The newspaper attributed the decision to “difficulties in coordinating with US authorities” and concerns that Mamdani could order Wing of Zion to take off immediately rather than remain at the airport while Netanyahu is away. It said

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  More than 160 Irish athletes call for football boycott against Israel

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  More than 160 Irish athletes have signed an open letter calling on Ireland’s national football team to boycott its next two matches against Israel in the UEFA Nations League, the Irish Sport for Palestine group said on Monday. Ireland are due to face Israel in Hungary on 27 September before meeting again in the return match in Serbia on 4 October. Both matches will be played at neutral venues and behind closed doors following protests by players and fans over the number of Palestinian civilians killed during the war in Gaza. According to Irish Sport for Palestine, the signatories include Olympic athlete Ciara Mageean, former footballer Louise Quinn, former rugby player Tony Ward, and boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan.

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  Egypt reaffirms rejection of Palestinian displacement in talks with US Jewish organisations

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Cairo’s rejection of the displacement of Palestinians during talks with representatives of several American Jewish organizations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. The meeting took place as Abdelatty attended the high-level segment of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to the ministry, Abdelatty emphasised Egypt’s commitment to its strategic relationship with the United States and expressed Cairo’s interest in expanding bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The discussions also addressed developments across the Middle East, with Abdelatty stressing the importance of resolving regional conflicts through diplomacy and political negotiations. He said peaceful settlements were necessary to strengthen regional and

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  Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  The Hind Rajab Foundation said on Monday that it had filed a criminal complaint with Italian authorities against an Israeli soldier who it says is currently visiting Italy, accusing him of involvement in violations of international law during Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Brussels-based organization identified the soldier as Yonatan Shalikh and said its complaint includes involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal acts. “The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier Yonatan Shalikh,” the organisation said in a statement published on its website. According to the foundation, Shalikh is currently vacationing in Tuscany. It said he served with a company of Israel’s Givati Brigade operating under the command

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  Jordan FM says Gaza aid is expiring in warehouses as Israel restricts entry

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Monday that humanitarian aid intended for the Gaza Strip was expiring in warehouses because Israel was preventing it from entering the territory, and called for greater international action to enforce humanitarian law. Safadi made the remarks during a seminar in New York focused on humanitarian diplomacy and upholding international humanitarian law, according to a statement from Jordan’s Foreign Ministry. The event was organized by the European Union and Ireland and co-sponsored by Jordan, the African Union, Brazil and Canada. Safadi said more than two million Palestinians in Gaza continued to face severe deprivation and humanitarian suffering, arguing that the international community had failed to make effective use of mechanisms available under international law.

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  Tunisian defence committee says 15 detained after march supporting Gaza Flotilla activists

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  A Tunisian defence committee said on Monday that 15 people had been detained following demonstrations calling for the release of four activists associated with the Steadfastness Flotilla, an initiative organized in support of the Gaza Strip. The Defence Committee for the Steadfastness Flotilla Detainees in Tunisia said the arrests occurred in recent hours following solidarity actions in the capital. The committee identified several of those detained as activists Adel Ben Ghazi, Mariem Halfawi, Souhail Chaabi and Thoraya Chatiba. According to the group, the detainees had participated in a march through central Tunis that ended outside the Municipal Theatre on Habib Bourguiba Avenue. The committee said it had not received information about the legal grounds for the arrests or where those

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  Hamas calls on ‘Peace Council’ members to take action over Israeli ceasefire violations

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Hamas on Monday called on Arab and Islamic countries participating in the Peace Council to take what it described as a “clear and practical stance” in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem accused Israel of continuing attacks that have killed Palestinian civilians despite the ceasefire agreement reached at Sharm El-Sheikh nearly a year ago. Qassem pointed to Palestinians reportedly killed in Gaza on Monday, including women and children, and characterized the continuing attacks as an extension of what Hamas describes as Israel’s war of “extermination” in the territory. He criticised the Peace Council and its institutions for what he described as their failure to explicitly identify Israel as responsible for

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  Pro-Palestinian activists cover ‘State of Israel’ Street sign in São Paulo

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian activists in Brazil temporarily covered a street sign bearing the name “Estado de Israel” (State of Israel) in São Paulo with a sticker reading “Free Palestine, from the river to the sea,” as part of a protest in solidarity with Palestinians. Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila participated in the action on Sunday. Images circulated online showed a sticker designed to resemble São Paulo’s official street signage placed over the existing sign. Following the protest, Ávila published a statement on social media criticising Israeli policies toward Palestinians and restrictions on humanitarian assistance entering the Gaza Strip. He also criticised US policy toward the conflict. Ávila has participated in several international campaigns supporting Palestinians, including maritime missions seeking to break Israel’s siege

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  Egyptian-Houthi struggle for control of the Red Sea

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Egypt stands to suffer some of the greatest losses from the escalating tensions in Bab Al-Mandab and the Red Sea, amid serious concerns that disruption to shipping through the Suez Canal could result in heavy economic, security and strategic costs. The Houthis’influence in Yemen, coupled with their intensifying attacks on Saudi territory and facilities and their control of strategic sites and islands at the entrance to the Red Sea, poses a serious threat to Egyptian influence and raises the prospect of a new Hormuz scenario for the region and the world. Cairo is facing a new regional reality that threatens not only international shipping and Suez Canal revenues, but also its regional standing, placing a poisoned dagger at its eastern

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  Iran threatens US with new weapons, new targets If US attacks

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on Monday that if the United States launches another attack on Iran, Tehran will deploy new weapons and strike targets that have not been targeted before. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said Iran would also change the “geography of the war” if another attack takes place. “If there is new aggression, we will certainly introduce new weapons with new capabilities into the fray, and the world will be astonished,” the Fars agency quoted him as saying. “Our targets will also no longer be the same. We have new targets that have not yet been struck.” Mohebbi said. He added that Iran was also prepared for “a prolonged war.” The threat came after the commander

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  Moroccan migrant risks life hiding under Real Valladolid team bus to reach Spain

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  A 17-year-old Moroccan migrant reached the Iberian Peninsula from Ceuta after hiding underneath a bus carrying Spanish second-division football club Real Valladolid, which was returning from a match played in the North African city, the club confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday. Club sources said the teenager was found curled up between the bus’s rear wheels after travelling more than 100 kilometres on board. According to the same source, he remained hidden in this way throughout the ferry journey from Ceuta to the mainland before asking for help when the bus stopped at a roadside service station. The Real Valladolid delegation took care of the minor and provided him with food, water and clothes until the Spanish Civil Guard arrived

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  UN condemns continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, urges restraint

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  The UN reiterated Monday its condemnation of persistent cross-border attacks launched by Yemeni Houthis against Saudi Arabia, including attempted strikes aimed at Riyadh, Anadolu reports. “We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing military escalation in and around Yemen, including Houthi offensives in Taiz, Lahij, and Marib, with grave consequences for civilians in Yemen and across the region,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. Dujarric explained that the cross-border strikes have targeted civilian areas and vital energy infrastructure across the kingdom, urging all parties to “exercise restraint and prevent any further escalation.” Recent cross-border Houthi attacks have injured civilians in southern Saudi Arabia, while renewed fighting has disrupted shipping routes and displaced civilians inside Yemen. Trump called off planned US strikes

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  Iranian president’s media team denied US visa, says official

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  An Iranian official said Monday that the US refused visas to the media team accompanying President Masoud Pezeshkian on his planned visit Tuesday to New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Anadolu reports. The Iranian public would be kept informed of the latest developments regarding the bilateral meetings Pezeshkian would have during his visit, Habibollah Abbasi, director general of public relations at the Iranian presidency, said in remarks carried by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency. He said Pezeshkian’s visit to the US would last five days, including two days allocated for travel. Abbasi added that the Iranian president would be accompanied by Mohsen Haji-Mirzaei, chief of staff of the Iranian presidency, and Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, deputy

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  Israel blocks Gaza patients from leaving for treatment for 2nd day over Jewish holidays

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  Israel prevented Palestinian patients and wounded people in the Gaza Strip from traveling abroad for treatment Monday for the second consecutive day because of Jewish holidays, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Anadolu reports. “For the second consecutive day, no patients or wounded people have been evacuated through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings because of holidays observed by the occupation,” the ministry said in a brief statement. According to Yoram Halevi, Israel’s coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories, the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings in southern Gaza were closed Sunday and Monday because of Jewish holidays. The closures came after Israel on Thursday reduced the number of patients, wounded people, and their companions scheduled to leave Gaza for

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  Lithuania says it will not join Eurovision 2027 boycott over Israel’s participation

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  Lithuania’s public broadcaster said Monday it was not considering withdrawing from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest following decisions by broadcasters in Ireland and the Netherlands to boycott the competition over Israel’s participation, Anadolu reports. Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) said it would follow the position of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, according to Lithuanian news agency BNS. “LRT adheres to the position of the European Broadcasting Union and is not currently considering the possibility of withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest,” LRT administration said in comments sent to BNS. “The EBU decides on matters related to the organization of the contest, and LRT, as a member of the EBU, adheres to and respects the decisions made

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  Mother of ex-Royal Marine aid worker killed by Israel in Gaza calls for end to UK arms sales

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  The mother of James “Jim” Henderson, one of three British aid workers killed when Israeli drone strikes hit a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza in April 2024, has called on the UK government to stop selling arms to Israel and cut ties with it altogether. “Stop selling arms to Israel. Stop engaging with Israel,” Trish Henderson told the Mirror ahead of a pre-inquest review into her son’s death at Avon Coroner’s Court in Bristol today. “We are forever watching and finding out what’s going on in Gaza, and it’s just awful.” Exonerating murder: The IDF and the World Central Kitchen killings   Henderson, a 33-year-old former Royal Marine from Falmouth in Cornwall, was providing security for the convoy

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  The Left’s Elif Eralp urges Germans to consider ‘Palestinian perspectives’ on conflict with Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  The Left party’s Elif Eralp, who is poised to become Berlin’s next mayor, said on Monday that Germans should pay greater attention to the “Palestinian perspective” in their conflict with Israel, Anadolu reports. “This government has paid far too little attention to the perspectives of Muslim and Palestinian people — and, for that matter, to those of many Jewish people as well. I view it as my task to acknowledge and unite all these perspectives, and I believe that is achievable,” said Eralp at a news briefing in Berlin, where she was joined by Ines Schwerdtner, The Left co-chair. “That is why we firmly oppose the instrumentalization of criticism directed at the Israeli government. We also oppose every form of

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  All Iranian airlines to shut down worldwide by Sept. 23, US Treasury chief says

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Operations of all Iranian commercial airlines will shut down globally beginning Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, Anadolu reports. “On September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent told US television network CNBC, outlining broad secondary sanctions aimed at isolating Tehran’s civil aviation network. Bessent explained that international hubs servicing Iranian planes would face complete exclusion from the American banking system. Foreign operators cannot refuel the aircraft, provide landing facilities, or sell passenger tickets without risking their access to dollar clearing, he warned. Iranian officials did not immediately issue a public response regarding the planned aviation restrictions. READ: US says ‘door is open’ for Iran to return to negotiations Bessent also warned third-party

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  Kuwait: Oil wealth and the need to rethink energy diplomacy

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Kuwait exports oil, yet relies on imported gas and regional electricity trade to power its economy. This dual position demonstrates why hydrocarbon wealth does not automatically deliver energy security. Oil revenues provide purchasing power; reliable supply also requires functioning power plants, fuel-receiving infrastructure and dependable transport routes. On 2nd April 2025, rising demand and generation capacity restricted by maintenance prompted temporary power cuts in some industrial and agricultural areas. Reuters reported that the outages lasted less than two hours. The problem was not oil underground, but the temporary inability to turn available resources into deliverable electricity. Kuwait’s energy diplomacy must address both sides of this equation: maintaining oil exports and securing gas and electricity supplies. International agreements and domestic reforms

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  The dual failure: How Conservatives and Labour inherited—and deepened—Britain’s ruin

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  When I first arrived in London, the country stood on the threshold of a historic shift. The public mood was electric, buoyed by the anticipation of ending decades of Conservative rule—from Margaret Thatcher’s iron certainty to John Major’s exhausted pragmatism. I remember asking my university professor at the time—a veteran journalist who understood the shadows behind the doors of 10 Downing Street—why the British public seemed almost euphoric. His answer was sharp and unambiguous: “It’s the joy of emancipation. Conservative rule has wrecked the country.” I was not entirely convinced then. But I recall that moment vividly today as Britain relitigates its past, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham openly blaming Thatcher-era deregulation for the economic paralysis gripping the country. The

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  ‘Healthcare is being deliberately targeted every day’: Israeli fire forces second Gaza clinic to evacuate in a week

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Israeli gunfire near a medical point in central Gaza supported by Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) seriously injured a woman and her child this morning, forcing patients and medical staff to evacuate, the British charity said. It is the second MAP-supported facility to be evacuated after Israeli gunfire in less than a week. The shooting took place in Abu Madeen, between Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi, in Deir al-Balah, where MAP’s partner, the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), runs the medical point.  Stray bullets hit the clinic, damaging a water tank on the roof. CFTA evacuated all patients and medical staff, with around 40 patients inside the clinic at the time. It remains unclear whether services will resume tomorrow. Less than

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  US refusal to issue visas to Palestinian delegation violates international agreements: Hamas

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Hamas on Monday condemned the US refusal to grant visas to a Palestinian delegation seeking to attend UN General Assembly meetings, Anadolu reports. “The decision constitutes a flagrant violation of the international conventions and agreements governing the work of the UN headquarters and a continuation of the policy of complete US bias toward the Zionist occupation,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a statement. The restriction has continued for a second year. In 2025, Washington denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials to attend the meetings, forcing Abbas to participate by video link. On Thursday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution allowing the State of Palestine to participate in the general debate of its 81st session

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  Gaza authorities hold Israel responsible for Al-Saada building collapse that killed 21 Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Gaza’s government media office on Monday rejected the Israeli army’s account denying that it had targeted the Al-Saada residential building, saying an earlier Israeli strike on the structure’s foundations caused its recent collapse, which killed 21 Palestinians, Anadolu reports. On Wednesday, the Israeli army claimed in a post on US social media platform X that it had not targeted the Al-Saada building during the war. “Contrary to the claims, the IDF (Israeli army) did not strike the building in question during the war,” it said. In a statement, Gaza’s government media office said the Al-Saada building was directly struck by Israel on Oct. 9, 2023, in the early days of the war. “The bombardment targeted the building’s foundations and its

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  Refineries as battlefields: Ukraine’s Moscow strike and global diesel risks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  The reported Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region on 20th September 2026 illustrates how energy infrastructure has become a central target in the Russia–Ukraine war. Russian authorities said that three people were killed, more than 1,600 drones were intercepted across Russia, and approximately 450 were directed toward Moscow. Several drones reportedly reached the Moscow Oil Refinery, while another damaged a residential building. The attack occurred on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections, giving the incident both military and political significance.  The full extent of the damage remains uncertain. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces had struck a major Russian oil facility and a logistics site linked to Russia’s war effort. The Associated Press reported damage to

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  Israel closes roads and West Bank crossings into Jerusalem for Yom Kippur

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Israeli authorities closed several main roads in Jerusalem to vehicle traffic on Monday, for the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, Anadolu reports. Footage showed barriers blocking roads across the city. Israeli forces also increased security at multiple locations. Authorities closed most checkpoints and crossings between the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem to Palestinians, disrupting travel and preventing some from crossing. The Jewish holiday season began with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on Sept. 12-13. It continues with Yom Kippur, followed by Sukkot from Sept. 26 to Oct. 2 and Simchat Torah on Oct. 3. READ: Israeli forces detain 53 Palestinians in occupied West Bank

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  Trump called off planned US strikes on Houthis at last minute: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump called off planned airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen shortly before they were to be carried out, The New York Times reported Sunday. The reversal came by midday Sunday after military commanders had approved target lists and personnel were loading munitions onto aircraft designated for the operation, according to administration officials cited by the newspaper. Trump initially resisted launching airstrikes during meetings with advisers Wednesday but later ordered the Pentagon to prepare for military action following a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, the report said. The Saudi crown prince urged Trump to intervene directly amid rapid territorial gains by the Houthis in Yemen, according to the newspaper. Trump reversed course

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  Israeli forces detain 53 Palestinians in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  The Israeli army arrested at least 53 Palestinians early Monday during a large-scale raid on the town of Biddu, northwest of occupied Jerusalem, Anadolu reports. Those detained were kept at an interrogation and detention center they set up inside a house seized during the raid, the Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement received by Anadolu Agency. Israeli forces searched, vandalized, and damaged several homes and physically assaulted Palestinians, it said, adding that the military operations in the town were still ongoing. In a separate statement, the Palestinian Prisoners Society said the Israeli army subjected more than 100 Palestinians to field interrogation across the occupied West Bank over the past two days amid an increase in such operations. The operations

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guards say will change ‘geography of war’ if attacked again

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tehran would change its weapons and the “geography of the war” if the US launched a new attack on the country. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohibi made the remarks in a television program on Sunday evening, addressing a range of current issues. “If a new attack takes place, our defense and offensive operations will change significantly. We will change the weapons and the geography of the war, and we will bring new capabilities with new capacities into the field. The world will be surprised,” Mohibi said. “Our targets are no longer the same targets as before. We have identified new targets that have not yet been attacked.” “Iran is prepared for a long-term war,

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  US says ‘door is open’ for Iran to return to negotiations

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said on Sunday that the “door is open” for Iran to return to negotiations to end the conflict in the Middle East, Anadolu reports. Speaking at an Al-Monitor Live event in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Waltz said the Trump administration believes time is on its side in the conflict with Iran, which began Feb. 28. “I do believe that to be the case,” Waltz said when asked by Al-Monitor senior adviser Andrew Parasiliti whether Washington believes time is on its side. He added that the “door is open for Iran to come back to the negotiating table,” while dismissing as “fantastical” reports that Tehran has demanded an

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  Iran condemns Israel over Gaza, West Bank actions ahead of UN General Assembly

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Iran on Monday condemned continued Israeli “genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity” in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, urging the international community to take “serious and decisive action” to stop the killing of Palestinians, Anadolu reports. In a statement ahead of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the Foreign Ministry also condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “shameless insult” against Al-Aqsa Mosque and the desecration of the Buraq Wall. Iran accused Israel of systematic killings and torture of Palestinians, saying more than 10,000 Palestinian women and children have been detained, with dozens allegedly dying in custody and hundreds suffering amputations or disabilities. It said at least three Palestinian prisoners die under torture each month, describing this

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  Egypt says Suez Canal ‘safe’ as shipping traffic returns to normal

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Egypt said the Suez Canal remains “safe,” with maritime traffic operating normally along one of the world’s most important shipping routes, Anadolu reports. According to a statement from the Suez Canal Authority, Chairman Osama Rabie spoke at a ceremony in Alexandria marking World Maritime Day 2026 organized by the Maritime Transport Sector of the Ministry of Transport. Rabie said vessel traffic through the canal was proceeding regularly and that revenue reached $567.1 million in August, up 56.7% from $326 million in the same month of 2025. He stressed that navigation traffic remained stable and services were being provided with high efficiency, adding that canal pilots — specialized local navigators who board ships to guide them safely through the narrow stretch

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  Israeli soldier who shot wounded Palestinian in the head pardoned ‘in the spirit’ of Jewish holiday

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Israeli President Isaac Herzog has pardoned Elor Azaria, the former army medic filmed shooting a badly wounded Palestinian in the head in the occupied West Bank city of Hebron in 2016.  Azaria shot Abdel Fattah Al-Sharif in March 2016. Al-Sharif had stabbed and wounded an occupation soldier, but Israeli troops had already shot him. The injured Palestinian lay on the ground for about 11 minutes before Azaria killed him. Al-Sharif was unarmed and badly hurt when Azaria approached him. The horrific killing of the Al-Sharif by Azaria was captured on video, sparking outrage.  Herzog’s office said the president acted on the recommendation of Defence Minister Israel Katz. It cited the time that had passed and the spirit of Yom Kippur

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  Trump administration prepares sweeping sanctions against ICC

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  The administration of US President Donald Trump is preparing to impose sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), in a new escalation of its confrontation with the court over its investigations and arrest warrants against Israeli officials. According to a report published by The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, the planned measures would go beyond sanctions imposed so far on ICC officials and judges to target the institution itself and most transactions involving it. The newspaper reported that the sanctions would prohibit most transactions with the ICC, but the restrictions would take effect after a six- to seven-month wind-down period, giving organisations dealing with the court time to decide before the measures come into force. READ: Trump bans CNN, MS

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  France diesel prices hit record high amid Middle East turmoil

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Diesel prices in France reached a new record high on Sunday, according to an analysis by Agence France-Presse (AFP), amid disruptions to global oil supplies caused by the war in the Middle East.  Since the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran began in February, fuel prices at filling stations around the world have risen sharply, compounded by renewed conflict in Yemen and attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. At 10.30am (8.30am GMT), the average price of a litre of diesel reached 2.41 euros ($2.76), according to an AFP calculation based on prices listed on the Economy Ministry’s website at more than 8,700 filling stations. The price exceeded the previous record set on Saturday. The average

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  Palestinians in Britain issue statement on National Council elections

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  As the Palestinian National Council prepares to be reconstituted, members of the Palestinian community gathered in London to affirm their people’s right to choose their representatives. They reiterated that the Palestinian National Council is an inclusive national body representing all Palestinians, both in Palestine and across the diaspora. A press statement from the gathering affirmed the following: First: Electing the Palestinian people’s representatives to the Palestinian National Council is a fundamental national and democratic right that must neither be denied nor circumvented. Second: We reject appointments as a substitute for elections. Legitimate representation derives from the will of the Palestinian people, expressed through free, fair and direct elections that ensure the participation of Palestinians in Palestine and the diaspora. Third:

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  How Germany’s anti-Palestinian crackdowns paved the way for the AfD

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Magdeburg, Germany, 6th September 2026. State elections were looming over Germany, an important day for nation’s democratic future. Center-left parties appeared visibly anxious and terrified at the eastern Germany state of Saxony-Anhalt. State media announced the exit poll just after eight in the evening. Alternative for Germany (AfD) has marked historical victory by securing 43.8 per cent of the vote in Saxony Anhalt, more than double its result five years earlier, and falls three seats sort of governing a German state alone for the first time since 1945. The AfD gained immense support by adopting the xenophobic and Islamophobic position following the refugee crisis in 2015, when Angela Merkel opened the Germany’s border and allowed more than a million refugees

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  UN rapporteur likens killing of Gaza children to Nazi Holocaust practices

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories Francesca Albanese on Saturday compared Israel’s killing of thousands of children in the Gaza Strip to practices carried out by the Nazis during the Holocaust. Albanese made the comment in a post on X in response to remarks by Israeli model Sarai Givaty to the Hebrew-language i24NEWS channel. The UN rapporteur reposted part of Givaty’s interview, in which she asked: “Is it possible for me not to feel sad about every child crying in the world?”  “I am sad. But I also realise that if we don’t act, this child will grow up to become a terrorist,” Givaty said. Albanese responded: “(Children will grow up.) This was

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  Israel places West Bank Islamic site under its authority, Palestine calls for ‘urgent’ intervention

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  An Israeli military force raided several areas in the occupied West Bank’s Tulkarm governorate on Sunday, including the Banat Yaqub shrine, and posted notices stating that the site had been placed under the authority of Israel’s Antiquities Authority. According to the Palestinian news agency Wafa, the building consists of two floors: a lower floor dating to the Roman period and an upper floor dating to the Mamluk period. It has domes, a prayer room and a basement leading to the ground floor. Two stone-built pools and two structures dating to the Roman period are located in front of the building. A modern adjacent building, known as Al-Fakhara, is linked to pottery production and contains a pottery kiln. The Palestinian Ministry

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  Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli official, settlers’ Al-Aqsa entry

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Saudi Arabia on Sunday condemned an Israeli official and a group of settlers entering the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem, describing it as a “blatant violation and provocation to Muslims around the world”. In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom strongly condemned and denounced the entry of an Israeli official and a group of extremist settlers into the courtyards of Al-Aqsa Mosque under the protection of Israeli forces. It said the incursion was “a blatant violation and provocation to Muslims around the world”. Saudi Arabia reiterated its “categorical rejection of provocative practices and illegal and extremist acts of incitement and violence” by Israeli officials against Palestinians and holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories.

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  Egyptian irrigation minister: Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam is illegitimate

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Egyptian Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam said on Sunday that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is “illegitimate” and that Egypt has the right to take any measures it deems necessary to protect its water security. Sewilam made the remarks during a briefing for foreign media representatives in Cairo, organised by the government’s State Information Service. Egypt and Ethiopia have been at odds for years over the dam, which Addis Ababa began building on the Blue Nile in 2011. Cairo has called for a binding agreement on its operation to safeguard Egypt’s water security. READ: Italy offers to mediate between Egypt and Ethiopia over Nile waters Sewilam said the completion of the dam and the passage of time did

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  Syria reopens Holy Land School in Idlib after 60 Years

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Syria has reopened the Holy Land School in the Jisr al-Shughur area of Idlib governorate after it had been closed for around six decades, Syrian Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh announced on Sunday. Al-Saleh said he had participated in a ceremony marking the reopening of the school, which will once again receive students from the surrounding area. “After it was closed for about 60 years by the Baath Party and the Assad regime, today we participated in the reopening of the Holy Land School in the Jisr al-Shughur area,” Al-Saleh said in a statement. He welcomed the return of students to the building, describing its reopening as representative of “the Syria we dreamed of … a Syria

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  Saudi Arabia has the weapons. What about a strategy?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  A Houthi ballistic missile targeted Riyadh on Saturday. The Saudi-led coalition said its defenses intercepted it. Later, a plume of smoke rose near the capital’s airport. It was the first strike on the city since the fighting escalated this summer. The attack exposed a hard truth. Saudi Arabia owns one of the world’s costliest arsenals. Yet the movement it went to war against in March 2015 now holds Yemen’s entire Red Sea coast, according to AFP. It has seized Mokha and claims Perim Island, in the middle of the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Military power has not produced political control. The war has a long history. Saudi Arabia launched its air campaign on March 26, 2015, to stop the Houthi advance