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

• UN warns aid being hampered in Gaza as closed crossings block deliveries

  by Marwa A on October 22, 2025

  The UN warned on Wednesday that humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip is being hindered by closed border crossings by Israel, even as families move to areas that have become accessible since an Oct. 10 ceasefire, Anadolu reports. Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Farhan Haq reported at a news conference that “since the ceasefire took effect more than 10 days ago, the UN and its partners have made progress in scaling up response efforts in Gaza, especially in central and southern areas of the Strip.” “The continued closure of the Zikim and Erez crossings, which provide direct access to the north, make it extremely challenging for humanitarians to reach people there with vital

• Jewish figures urge UN, world leaders to sanction Israel for Gaza actions

  by Marwa A on October 22, 2025

  Hundreds of Jewish public figures worldwide have appealed to the UN and global leaders to impose sanctions on Israel for “unconscionable” acts in the Gaza Strip that amount to genocide, The Guardian reported Wednesday, Anadolu reports. An open letter signed by more than 450 individuals, including former Israeli officials, writers and award-winning artists, demands accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. “We have not forgotten that so many of the laws, charters, and conventions established to safeguard and protect all human life were created in response to the Holocaust,” it said. “Those safeguards have been relentlessly violated by Israel.” Among the signatories are former Israeli Knesset speaker Avraham Burg, peace negotiator Daniel Levy, authors Michael

• Israeli bills for West Bank annexation undermines 2-state solution: Jordan

  by Marwa A on October 22, 2025

  Jordan decried the Israeli Knesset’s preliminary passage of two bills on Wednesday to annex the occupied West Bank and the Ma’ale Adumim settlement bloc in East Jerusalem as “a flagrant breach of international law” and a dangerous escalation undermining the two-state solution, Anadolu reports. The Knesset approved the two bills in a preliminary reading on Wednesday. Both drafts still must pass three additional readings to become law. In a statement, Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Fouad al-Majali called the move “a flagrant violation of international law and a blow to the two-state solution, as well as to the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and to establish their independent, sovereign state on the June 4, 1967 lines, with occupied Jerusalem as

• World court rules Israel must allow, facilitate impartial human rights groups like Red Cross, 3rd-state relief efforts in Gaza

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled on Wednesday that Israel is obliged under the Geneva Convention to agree to and facilitate relief schemes provided by third states and impartial humanitarian groups, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), to ensure that sufficient aid reaches the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. In its detailed opinion, the world court underscored that Israel, as the occupying power, carries an unconditional duty to ensure the local population’s basic needs are met. It found that the population of Gaza has been “inadequately” supplied within the meaning of Article 59 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and that Israel must therefore permit and assist humanitarian relief operations.

• Israel transfers 30 more Palestinian bodies to Gaza, some showing signs of abuse: Health Ministry

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Gaza’s Health Ministry on Wednesday received the remains of 30 more Palestinians transferred by Israel under a ceasefire deal, with some bodies showing signs of abuse, Anadolu reports. A ministry statement said that the bodies were handed over through the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). “Several bodies showed clear signs of abuse, including beatings, bound hands, and blindfolded eyes,” it added. The ministry said the new handovers brought the number of bodies returned by Israel since Oct. 14 to 195, of whom only 57 bodies have been identified. Families have been trying to identify their relatives based on remaining physical marks or clothing, as Israel’s years-long blockade and the destruction of Gaza’s laboratories have made forensic testing impossible.

• Israeli Knesset passes preliminary reading of bill to annex occupied West Bank

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  The Israeli Knesset (parliament) passed a bill in its preliminary reading on Wednesday to annex the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. A Knesset statement said the bill was approved in a preliminary reading “to apply the sovereignty of the State of Israel to the territories of Judea and Samaria (West Bank).” The statement said 25 lawmakers supported the bill, introduced by Avi Maoz, leader of the far-right Noam Party, while 24 opposed it. The Knesset has 120 members in total. The bill still must pass three additional readings to become law. It will now go to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee for further deliberations. READ: Israel shuts down orphan care association in West Bank, seizes equipment The daily Yedioth

• The Ceasefire Illusion: Deaths, Denials and Diplomatic Spin | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we look at Israel’s ongoing violations of the Gaza ceasefire, with more than 80 breaches and dozens of Palestinians killed. We break down the events in Rafah and the shifting US position, as Washington moves to provide legal and political cover for continued Israeli attacks. We also examine growing fears of internal conflict in Gaza, the proposed Egypt-led stabilisation force, and the expected ICJ ruling on Israel’s blockade of UN agencies. A new UN report documents rising killings in the West Bank, while across Europe, Palestine solidarity is being criminalised—from arrests in the UK to protest bans in Germany and the row over Maccabi Tel Aviv’s football match.   WATCH: Confession of a US

• Armenian premier says he hopes border with Turkiye will open soon

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Armenia’s prime minister on Wednesday voiced optimism that the ongoing positive dialogue between Armenia and Turkiye could soon lead to the opening of their shared border. Yerevan is “ready, not only politically but also technically” to enable the transit of freight trucks between Turkiye and Azerbaijan through Armenian territory, Nikol Pashinyan told the 2025 Tbilisi Silk Road Forum in Georgia. “The positive dialogue between Armenia and Turkiye gives hope that the parties may open the borders in the near future,” he added. “We are ready, starting today, to ensure the transit of freight trucks through Armenian territory from Turkiye to Azerbaijan and from Azerbaijan to Turkiye.” He added that Armenia is also politically prepared to allow transit between Azerbaijan’s exclave

• Pakistan ‘strongly’ condemns Israel’s violations of Gaza peace agreement

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Pakistan on Wednesday “strongly” condemned the renewed attacks by Israeli occupying forces in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of numerous civilians, Anadolu reports. Such actions, Islamabad said, run contrary to the spirit of the Sharm el-Sheikh peace agreement. The ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, brokered through regional and international mediation and implemented on Oct. 10, stipulates a partial Israeli withdrawal from several areas in Gaza to new positions within the enclave known as the “yellow line.” Israeli forces, however, have repeatedly violated the ceasefire. READ: Funeral held in Gaza for 54 prisoners returned by Israel under ceasefire deal “Pakistan urges the international community to take urgent and effective measures to end these violations and to ensure full implementation of

• Lebanon, Syria close to restoring diplomatic relations: Lebanese official

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Lebanon is close to restoring diplomatic relations with neighboring Syria, Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri said on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “Relations between the two countries over the past five decades were unequal and a source of grievance for most Lebanese,” Mitri said in an interview with the Lebanese state television. “Today, however, we have an opportunity to rebuild those ties on new foundations based on equality, mutual respect, and reciprocity, without one imposing its guardianship over the other,” he added. Mitri described the current relationship between Beirut and Damascus as being “built on a clean slate,” adding that the diplomatic exchange between the two countries “will take place soon.” Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024,

• Israeli forces raid village in southern Syria, carry out excavation works

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Israeli army forces raided a village in the Quneitra countryside in southern Syria on Wednesday and carried out excavation works in the area, according to local media, Anadolu reports. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that Israeli forces advanced into the Al-Hamidiyah village backed by heavy engineering equipment, including two drilling machines, a bulldozer, and a truck. Israeli soldiers conducted excavation operations inside a site where Israeli troops have been stationed for about six months, in violation of Syrian sovereignty, the outlet said. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army or the Syrian authorities on the media report. In recent months, the Israeli army has staged several cross-border raids into Syria’s southern provinces, including Quneitra, despite international

• Funeral held in Gaza for 54 prisoners returned by Israel under ceasefire deal

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  A funeral procession was held in central Gaza on Wednesday for 54 Palestinian prisoners returned by Israel under a ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. Hundreds of Palestinians gathered in Deir al-Balah city to bid farewell to the deceased prisoners, who could not be identified as their features were blurred as a result of torture. Ismail Al-Thawabta, director of the Gaza Government Media Office, told a press conference that signs of torture, including hanging marks, ropes around necks, and close-range gunshot wounds, were visible on the bodies. Medical teams also documented hand- and foot-binding with plastic restraints, blindfolds, burns, fractures, and evidence of being run over by tank treads, he added. “These acts constitute conclusive evidence of field executions,” Thawabteh said, calling

• Israel deports 32 foreign activists for supporting Palestinian farmers against settler violence in West Bank

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Israel ordered the deportation of 32 foreign activists on Wednesday for their support to olive-harvesting Palestinians against settler violence in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. A statement by Interior Minister Yariv Levin and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said the activists will be deported over suspicion of affiliation with “Union of Agricultural Work Committees,” a non-governmental organization that supports Palestinian farmers, during a protest last week. A 99-year entry ban has also been imposed on the activists, the statement said, without specifying the nationalities of the activists. The deportation order came upon a request from Yossi Dagan, the head of the Settlements Council in the northern West Bank. Founded in 1986, the “Union of Agricultural Work Committees” is the

• Iraqi premier, US secretary of state discuss commercial deals, regional issues

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa al-Sudani and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke over the phone on Tuesday, and discussed American commercial deals in Iraq and regional security concerns, the State Department said, Anadolu reports. Rubio and Sudani discussed efforts to finalize US trade agreements in Iraq, and the US top diplomat congratulated Iraqi prime minster for resuming oil exports via the Iraq-Türkiye Pipeline, noting the move will benefit Iraqi, Turkish and American businesses. Rubio highlighted the “urgency in disarming Iran-backed militias that undermine Iraq’s sovereignty, threaten the lives and businesses of Americans and Iraqis, and pilfer Iraqi resources for Iran.” He reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to working closely with Iraqi partners on shared goals of protecting Iraqi sovereignty, strengthening

• Palestinian activist vows to keep fighting Trump administration’s bid to re-detain him

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil accused the Trump administration of seeking to silence pro-Palestine voices by trying to re-detain him, after his attorneys appeared Tuesday before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia to challenge the legality of his detention, Anadolu reports. “We just finished a long hearing,” Khalil told reporters outside the court. “I feel confident, of course. The Trump administration is still trying to re-detain me. They’re trying to stop the federal court from looking at my case because they know they don’t have a case against me.” Khalil, 30, a Palestinian activist and Columbia University graduate, is a lawful permanent resident married to a US citizen. He was detained in March without a warrant by immigration officers

• Syria’s post-conflict reconstruction to cost at least $216B: World Bank

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  War-torn Syria’s reconstruction costs are expected to range between $140 billion and $345 billion, with a conservative estimate of $216 billion, the World Bank said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The 13-year long civil war physically damaged $108 billion worth of structures and infrastructure, amounting to one-third of the nation’s gross capital stock (GCS), according to the development organization’s The Syrian Conflict: Physical Damage and Reconstruction Assessment (2011-2024) report. Infrastructure was the most severely damaged category, accounting for 48% of the total damage ($52 billion), followed by residential structures ($33 billion) and non-residential buildings ($23 billion). In terms of total destruction, the governorates of Aleppo, Rif Dimashq, and Homs suffered the most. “The damage and reconstruction cost estimates are presented in

• US vice president meets with Israeli premier to discuss Gaza ceasefire

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  US Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday to discuss the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu and his wife, Sara, welcomed the US Vice President and his wife, Usha, to the premier’s office in Jerusalem. No further details were revealed regarding the content of the discussion. Vance is expected to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog following the talks with Netanyahu, according to Israeli media. The vice president arrived in Israel on Tuesday for a three-day visit to oversee the implementation of the truce that came into force on Oct. 10 in Gaza and discuss the second phase of US President

• UN agency reports continued destruction, forced displacement by Israel in occupied West Bank

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) reported Wednesday Israel’s continued destruction and forced displacement campaigns in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. “The future of Gaza and West Bank are one. A drawdown in Gaza should not become an opportunity to tighten the grip of occupation elsewhere,” the agency quoted Roland Friedrich, the director of UNRWA Affairs for the occupied West Bank, as saying on US social media company X. A ceasefire agreement took effect in Gaza on Oct. 10, based on a phased plan presented by US President Donald Trump. Friedrich pointed out a significant escalation of settler violence and settlement expansion across the West Bank, “pushing vulnerable Palestinian communities from their lands amid increasingly coercive conditions—paving the

• UN calls for more shelter aid for Gaza before winter

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, has stressed the need to allow a much larger quantity of shelter materials into Gaza before the onset of winter. In a press statement on Tuesday, Haq said that relief organisations in Gaza continue to expand their activities in areas that were previously hard to reach. He added that 300 tents and 14,700 blankets have been distributed to displaced and needy families in Khan Younis. Haq reiterated the importance of increasing the amount of shelter aid entering Gaza before the start of the winter season and called on Israel to issue more permits allowing humanitarian organisations to deliver relief supplies.  He also noted that UN teams have managed to deliver 10,638 tonnes

• How the Middle East can help power Indonesia’s green transition

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  A Saudi delegation is scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Thursday, 23 October 2025, for high-level talks between the Indonesian government and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The meeting will be led by Indonesia’s Public Works (PUPR) Minister, Dody Hanggodo, and will explore cooperation across infrastructure, water management and clean energy — part of Indonesia’s support for Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027.  For Indonesia, this marks more than a diplomatic courtesy: it opens a new chapter in green industrial diplomacy. The nation remains heavily dependent on coal for power; meeting its targets for a 34 per cent renewable energy share by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2060 demands larger and diversified partnerships.

• UNRWA expands its operations in Gaza

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its humanitarian operations in Gaza City. The agency said it is “expanding operations in Gaza City, resuming health services, emergency shelters, water distribution, and solid waste removal, while clearance of explosive ordnance remains critical to ensure civilian safety.” In a post on X, UNRWA stated that around 6,000 aid trucks are waiting at Gaza’s crossings. These trucks carry food supplies sufficient for Gaza’s population for six months, along with hundreds of thousands of tents and shelter materials urgently needed as winter approaches. The agency confirmed that the Israeli authorities continue to prevent the entry of this aid. Since 7 October 2023, Israeli

• Vatican: Israeli actions against Christians in West Bank cannot be justified

  by MI on October 22, 2025

  The Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, has condemned the behaviour of Israeli settlers towards Christians in the West Bank, describing the situation as “absolutely unacceptable.”    According to Vatican News, Parolin made the remarks during a press conference in Rome, held on the sidelines of a meeting about religious freedom around the world.  He said that “This is certainly a very complex issue,” adding, “but we fail to understand why these Christians, who are simply living their normal lives, should be subjected to such hostility.”         The Cardinal pointed out that the recent harassment in the town of Taybeh, east of Ramallah, represents a clear violation of the principles of coexistence and religious freedom.    When asked about

• Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Craig Murray – Britain, Gaza, and Middle East Peace

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Watch: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr Mustafa Barghouti discussing Gaza war

• UK removes Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group from terrorist organization list

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  The British government on Tuesday officially removed Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of proscribed terrorist organizations, citing the move as part of efforts to engage with Syria’s new government following the fall of the Assad regime last year, Anadolu reports. An order has been laid in parliament to de-proscribe the HTS, enabling “closer engagement with the new Syrian government” led by President Ahmed Al Sharaa, according to a government statement. The Home Office said the decision supports a range of UK priorities, including counter-terrorism cooperation, migration management, and the elimination of Syria’s remaining chemical weapons. The HTS, which was listed as an alias of al-Qaeda in 2017, was one of the most powerful armed groups opposing Bashar al-Assad’s

• Israel shuts down orphan care association in West Bank, seizes equipment

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  The Israeli army on Tuesday closed a Palestinian charity that provides care for orphans in the West Bank city of Hebron and confiscated office equipment and computers, a legal adviser said. An Israeli force raided the administrative offices of the Islamic Charitable Society and detained staff members for several hours on the top floor of the three-story building, Abdel Karim Farah, the association’s legal adviser, told Anadolu. He said the troops searched the offices, located in the Al-Hawouz area, before seizing office equipment and computers, releasing the staff, and sealing the building, without providing an explanation for the closure or how long it would remain in effect. Founded in 1961, the organization provides care for orphans and operates schools for

• Israeli premier fires his national security adviser over disputes on Qatar attack, Gaza City occupation: Media

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi on Tuesday amid disagreements over policy decisions, including a recent attack on Qatar and an offensive to occupy Gaza City, local media said, Anadolu reports. Hanegbi confirmed his departure, saying his tenure as head of the National Security Council would end after Netanyahu informed him a replacement would be appointed, The Jerusalem Post daily reported. He called for a “thorough investigation” into Israel’s failures surrounding the Oct. 7 Hamas attack, saying he shared in the responsibility. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that the deputy head of the National Security Council, Gil Reich, has been appointed as the acting head of the agency, replacing Hanegbi, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper. Israeli

• Germany refusing to allow entry to injured children from Gaza

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  The German government has rejected an offer by the northern city of Hanover to accept up to 20 injured and traumatized children from the Gaza Strip, media reports said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “We deeply regret the response from the Federal Interior Ministry. The refusal is disappointing and incomprehensible,” said Belit Onay, Hanover’s mayor, who comes from a Turkish immigrant family. Onay’s remarks were echoed by Hanover’s Regional President Steffen Krach, who pointed out that more than 16,000 people in Gaza depend on care from abroad. “Not providing this assistance at least to those who need it most – namely the children – is cruel,” Krach added. A ministry letter obtained by the German Press Agency (dpa) says that even after

• Turkish foreign minister, intelligence chief meet with Hamas delegation in Qatar

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin on Tuesday met with Mohammed Ismail Darwish, the head of Hamas’ Shura Council, and Hamas political bureau members in Qatar, Anadolu reports. The meeting took place in the Qatari capital Doha, Turkish diplomatic sources said. Further details of the talks have yet to be disclosed. READ: EU Commission chief says ‘Europe must play a role in rebuilding Gaza’

• EU Commission chief says ‘Europe must play a role in rebuilding Gaza’

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Europe must play a central role in rebuilding Gaza as well as reviving the two-state solution to Israel-Palestine conflict, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports. Speaking on the EU’s priorities for the coming year at the European Parliament, von der Leyen stressed that Europe’s independence and influence on the global stage depend on shaping the emerging international order, starting from its immediate neighborhood. “This is true in the Middle East, where Europe must play a role in rebuilding Gaza, in relaunching the two-state solution, as well as in encouraging the birth of a new Syria,” she said. Von der Leyen also underscored the EU’s commitment to supporting Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities

• Saudi crown prince to visit Trump at White House in November

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will visit US President Donald Trump at the White House next month, according to multiple reports published Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The Nov. 18 meeting comes as Riyadh continues to seek a defense pact with Washington, and an anonymous source told Bloomberg that the leaders are expected to sign a series of agreements concerning artificial intelligence, defense, nuclear cooperation and trade. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation on the visit. CBS News separately reported that bin Salman and Trump are likely to discuss military and intellligence cooperation during their sit-down. Trump said Friday that Saudi officials have informed him “as recently as yesterday” that they are willing to join

• Over 1,000 people flee Sudan’s Darfur city in 2 days amid worsening insecurity

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  A total of 1,070 people fled El-Fasher, the capital city of North Darfur state in western Sudan, over a two-day period due to deteriorating security conditions, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the UN agency said its field teams estimated that 1,070 people were displaced from the city on Sunday and Monday as insecurity worsened. The displaced have scattered across several sites throughout the state, while the security situation remains highly volatile and unpredictable, the organization added. On Monday, IOM reported that 1,510 people were displaced from El-Fasher between Oct. 15 and 19 amid growing insecurity. The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been besieging El-Fasher since May 10, 2024, as the Sudanese

• New mass grave found near Syrian capital

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Syrian civil defense teams on Tuesday retrieved the remains of 20 people from a mass grave east of the city of Douma in the Damascus countryside, local media said, Anadolu reports. The state-run Al-Ikhbariya channel, citing a civil defense statement, said the remains were found at a site in the Tal al-Sawan area east of Douma. Most of the remains appear to belong to children and women, it said, adding that investigators were not able to identify the victims. Civil defense teams found no clothing on the victims, suggesting they were killed while unclothed, the statement said. The Civil Defense noted that the National Commission for Missing Persons, a government body, is leading on-site efforts in coordination with the Interior

• Turkish President Erdogan arrives in Qatar for official visit

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  After engagements in Kuwait, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrived in Doha on Tuesday for an official visit at the invitation of Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Anadolu Agency reports. Erdogan was greeted with an official ceremony at the Hamad International Airport. Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani, other senior Qatari officials, and Turkiye’s Ambassador Mustafa Goksu were among those who welcomed him. During his visit, Erdogan is expected to meet the Qatari emir for bilateral and delegation-level talks. He will also attend the 11th meeting of the Turkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee, where the two sides are expected to sign several cooperation agreements. Qatar is the

• Palestinians document over 150 assaults by illegal Israeli settlers since start of olive harvest season

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Illegal Israeli settlers staged 158 assaults against Palestinian farmers in the occupied West Bank since the start of the olive harvest season in October, according to a local official, Anadolu reports. Muayyar Shaaban, who heads the Palestinian Authority’s Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, said field teams documented 17 attacks by the Israeli army and 141 others by illegal settlers. “These attacks ranged from violent physical assaults, arrests, movement restrictions, denial of access, intimidation, and harassment to direct gunfire,” Shaaban said. According to the official, 56 attacks were carried out in the northern city of Nablus, 51 assaults in the central city of Ramallah, and 15 in Hebron in the southern West Bank. Shaaban noted that 57 incidents of movement restrictions

• US vice president refuses to set Hamas disarmament deadline, says a lot ‘unpredictable’

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  US Vice President JD Vance on Tuesday declined to provide a deadline for Palestinian group Hamas to disarm, saying the situation remains “unpredictable”, Anadolu Agency reports. “We know that Hamas has to comply with the (ceasefire) deal,” Vance told reporters while visiting Israel. Asked how much time the group has before the US takes action or authorizes allies to do so, Vance refused to set a timeline. “I’m not going to do what the president (of the) United States has thus far refused to do, which is put an explicit deadline on it, because a lot of this stuff is difficult. A lot of this stuff is unpredictable,” he said. “I don’t think it’s actually advisable for us to say

• French president warns situation in Gaza ‘remains very fragile’

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the situation in Gaza still “remains very fragile,” despite a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel reached earlier this month, Anadolu reports. “The situation remains very fragile, and we are aware of that. It is therefore crucial that Hamas fully respects the commitments it has made, and that pressure continues to ensure that the ceasefire is fully observed in this context,” Macron told a joint news conference with Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob in Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia, on Tuesday. There have been accusations of violations of the ceasefire agreement, which was reached on Oct. 10 based on US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan that besides the return of hostages in exchange for Palestinian

• Palestine accuses Israel of destroying 90% of Gaza’s agricultural assets in 2 years

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Palestine accused Israel on Tuesday of destroying more than 90% of Gaza’s agricultural assets over the past two years and harming over 5,353 farmers in the occupied West Bank since the start of this year, Anadolu reports. The agricultural sector in Palestine is facing “major transformations and unprecedented challenges” as a result of Israel’s “systematic violations targeting land, water, people, and identity,” Agriculture Minister Rezq Salimia said in a press conference held at the ministry’s headquarters in Ramallah. “The (Israeli) genocidal war in the Gaza Strip caused massive destruction, exceeding 90% of agricultural resources and assets, including irrigation wells, greenhouses, and farming facilities,” he added. In the West Bank, Salimia said Israel controls more than 60% of its territory, blocking

• 4 deals signed between Turkiye, Kuwait

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Four agreements were signed between Turkiye and Kuwait on Tuesday in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Kuwaiti emir, Anadolu reports. Following bilateral and inter-delegation meetings at Kuwait’s Bayan Palace, a ceremony was held where various agreements between the two countries were signed. A maritime transport agreement and a memorandum of understanding on the mutual recognition of seafarers’ certificates between Turkiye’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry and Kuwait’s Interior Ministry were signed by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Kuwaiti Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Youssef Saud Al-Sabah. A memorandum on cooperation in the energy sector between Turkiye and Kuwait was signed by Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar and Kuwaiti’s Electricity, Water

• Egypt’s intelligence chief discusses Gaza ceasefire with Israeli officials

  by MI on October 21, 2025

  Egypt’s Intelligence Chief Hassan Rashad met with senior Israeli officials on Tuesday, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, for Gaza ceasefire talks, Anadolu reports. Netanyahu’s office said that the premier held talks with Rashad in Jerusalem to discuss the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan, as well as bilateral relations and other regional issues. The Egyptian intelligence chief also met with his Israeli counterpart, Shin Bet Chief David Zini, according to the public broadcaster KAN. Egypt’s state-run Al-Qahera News channel said Rashad’s talks in Israel will also take up the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The Egyptian intelligence chief is set to meet with US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff during the visit. The

• Growing international criticism of German anti-Palestinian repression

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  For several years now, the Palestine solidarity movement in Germany has faced severe repression. Yet after 7 October 2023, this harassment reached new levels: In the first weeks following the Gaza uprising and the beginning of the genocide, demonstrations were broadly banned in a number of German cities – especially in the capital, Berlin. Both Hamas and the international prisoner solidarity network “Samidoun” were declared illegal by executive order, and the slogan “From the river to the sea Palestine will be free” was classified as a prohibited “symbol” of Hamas. To this day, censorship, criminal charges and brutal police violence against pro-Palestinian demonstrators remain commonplace. Events are regularly cancelled – even UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, was denied

• Complicity with colonialism and genocide

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  All world leaders who quickly endorsed US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza found common ground with the perpetuated lie that Israel is not committing genocide in Gaza. In an interview with CBS 60 Minutes, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner denied Israel committing genocide in Gaza. “No, no, there was a war being fought,” according to Witkoff. According to Israel, the US and almost the entire world protecting Israel’s security narrative while pontificating about humanitarian aid. In September this year, the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera stated, belatedly, that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, and criticised the EU for failing to act collectively. The EU distanced itself from the statement, with the Commission’s Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho stating,

• Israel cheats on the ceasefire and jails a nation

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  Israel cheats on ceasefires as it cheats on the very notion of peace. No truce holds, because Israel never intends one to hold. Even as the world headlines declare “ceasefire in Gaza,” Israeli warplanes circle overhead and soldiers continue their raids. The guns never fall silent. Ceasefires, in Israel’s doctrine, are not about peace, they are a pause to reload, a break to deceive international opinion while tightening the siege on a population already shattered beyond repair. According to Al Jazeera and the Gaza media office, Israel has violated the truce dozens of times since early March 2025 — at least 116 Palestinians killed and nearly 500 wounded since the supposed “pause.” The total toll since October 2023 now exceeds

• EU keeps sanctions on Israel ‘on the table’ despite Gaza ceasefire

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  The European Union has not ruled out imposing sanctions on Israel, despite the recent ceasefire in Gaza, EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas said on Monday. Speaking after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, Kallas emphasised that while the ceasefire had shifted the political context, the bloc would maintain pressure on Israel to ensure the truce is upheld and humanitarian conditions improve. “The ceasefire has changed the context—that is very clear to everyone,” Kallas said. “However, unless we see real and sustainable change on the ground, including more aid reaching Gaza, the threat of sanctions will remain.” Prior to the ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump, Brussels had discussed potential punitive measures against Israel, including the

• Khamenei dismisses Trump’s “illusion” of destroying Iran’s nuclear programme

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, on Monday dismissed US President Donald Trump’s claim that American airstrikes in June destroyed Iran’s nuclear facilities, calling it an “illusion.” “The US president boasts: ‘We bombed and destroyed Iran’s nuclear industry.’ Well, live that illusion,” Khamenei said during a meeting with Iranian athletes, according to remarks published on his official website. His comments come after Trump repeatedly asserted that US strikes in June had “completely destroyed” key elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. On 22 June, US warplanes, supporting Israel during a 12-day war, targeted several nuclear sites—including the Fordow underground enrichment facility near Qom, as well as facilities in Isfahan and Natanz. The full extent of the damage remains unclear. In an address

• Ben-Gvir threatens coalition crisis over death penalty for Palestinian prisoners

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir warned on Monday that his far-right Otzma Yehudit party will suspend support for all coalition legislation unless Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government advances a bill imposing the death penalty on Palestinian prisoners within the next three weeks. Speaking during a meeting of his party’s Knesset faction, Ben-Gvir accused Netanyahu’s Likud party of violating the coalition agreement, which, he claimed, included a commitment to pass a death penalty law during the current Knesset term.“If the death penalty law is not brought to a vote within three weeks, Otzma Yehudit will not participate in votes on coalition bills,” Ben-Gvir declared. He criticised the government for what he called a series of “excuses” to delay the legislation—first

• Gaza’s silent generation: Psychological toll of Israel’s genocide strips children of speech

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  In Gaza, silence has become the only language left for thousands of children who have survived the ongoing genocide but not its psychological aftermath. In recent months, international and local organisations have documented a surge in cases of children losing the ability to speak—not due to physical injuries, but because of the unbearable psychological trauma of war. According to a report by the Gaza Community Mental Health Program (GCMHP), increasing numbers of children exhibit severe post-traumatic symptoms, including chronic nightmares, hypersensitivity to loud sounds, and bedwetting. Many remain completely silent despite having no damage to their vocal cords. Doctors identify this condition as “traumatic mutism”—a psychological disorder in which overwhelming fear or shock silences a child’s voice, forcing them to

• Iraq says it will not allow using its land, airspace to threaten Iran, neighbours

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  Iraq said Monday that it will not allow any use of its territory or airspace to threaten Iran or any neighbouring country, Anadolu agency reported. “Iraq will not, in any way, permit the use of its land or airspace to threaten Iran or any neighbouring country,” the state news agency INA quoted National Security Adviser Qasim al-Araji as saying during a joint press conference in Tehran with Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. “Baghdad remains fully committed to the security agreement signed with Tehran,” he added. In August, Iraq and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding to enhance security coordination along their shared border. “The Iraqi government is working to consolidate regional stability and prevent any escalation

• The Kurds and the tyranny of geography

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  For a people without a country, the dream of statehood is not merely political—it is existential. The Kurds, a mountainous people of shepherds and warriors, are the largest ethnic group in the world without a state. Numbering between 40 and 45 million, they are scattered across Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. This dispersion has been their curse. The tyranny of geography explains why their history is a cycle of broken promises, strategic betrayals, and an unfulfilled dream. The first betrayal The modern Kurdish tragedy began after World War I, when the victors carved the Ottoman Empire into new states. The 1920 Treaty of Sèvres dangled the possibility of Kurdish independence, but it was abandoned in the Treaty of Lausanne three

• Options before Hamas on the question of disarmament

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  The issue of disarming the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has emerged as one of the most complex and sensitive files under discussion in the second phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. The issue has imposed itself on both regional and international agendas. It is far from simple, and not a card that can easily be set aside — especially at a time when the Israeli occupation army has committed 80 violations of the agreement, resulting in the deaths of 97 Palestinians and injuries to 230 others since the ceasefire was declared, according to a statement by the Gaza Government Media Office. The entire matter could turn into a ticking mine capable of blowing up the fragile agreement

• Al-Shifa hospital director: 2,000 amputees, 5,000 cancer patients need treatment outside Gaza

  by Marwa A on October 21, 2025

  The director of al-Shifa medical complex, Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya, has sounded the alarm over the worsening situation of amputee and cancer patients in Gaza, calling on the international community and humanitarian organisations to act urgently to save their lives. In press remarks seen by the Palestinian Information Centre, Dr Abu Salmiya said that around two thousand amputee patients and more than five thousand cancer patients urgently need medical treatment outside the Gaza strip. He added that lists of patients requiring transfer have already been prepared, expressing deep concern over the continued closure of border crossings, which he warned could lead to a rise in the number of deaths. READ: 1 more Palestinian detainee dies in Israeli custody