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

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  Israeli president urges every effort to avoid another election

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Wednesday urged political parties to make every effort to avoid another election after preliminary results left neither main bloc with a parliamentary majority, Anadolu reports. “Everything must be done, especially after yesterday, to avoid repeating another election,” Herzog told reporters in remarks carried by Israeli public broadcaster KAN. He said he would begin consultations with parliamentary factions next week after receiving the official election results from the Central Elections Committee. “I expect everyone who comes here to come with an open mind,” Herzog said. He said he would listen to each faction, ask questions and hold discussions before deciding which lawmaker to task with forming a government. Under Israel’s basic law governing government formation, the

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  Israeli military demolishes homes of two Palestinian prisoners in West Bank village of Beita

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Israeli forces demolished two homes belonging to Palestinian prisoners in the occupied West Bank town of Beita, south of Nablus, on Wednesday, using heavy explosives to detonate one structure and a bulldozer to flatten the other, according to local officials. Israeli troops entered the village and ordered the families of Ibrahim Abdulkerim Davud and Zakaria Muhammed Davud to evacuate their residences prior to the demolitions, local sources reported. Davud’s house was blown up using explosives, while Zakaria Davud’s house was demolished with a bulldozer. READ: UN commission reports more than 1,000 Palestinians killed in West Bank since October 2023 The two men have been held in Israeli custody since January following their arrest on suspicion of carrying out a shooting attack

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  Israel’s final election results expected Thursday evening: Election official

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Israel’s final parliamentary election results are expected Thursday evening, Israeli news website Ynet reported Wednesday, citing an election official, Anadolu reports. Elad Naveh, director of the Central Elections Committee’s control center, said counting of more than 500,000 special double-envelope ballots would begin Wednesday evening and was expected to be completed Thursday evening, although the process could continue until Friday. The special ballots were cast by voters outside their registered polling stations, including soldiers, diplomats, police officers and displaced residents. Under the system, voters place their ballot inside an envelope, which is then placed in a second envelope containing their identification details to prevent duplicate voting. READ: Arab Joint List extends hand to Eisenkot’s bloc to oust Netanyahu gov’t As of the

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  Iraq, Syria discuss oil exports via Baniyas pipeline with capacity of 2M barrels per day

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa discussed Wednesday exporting Iraqi oil through the Baniyas pipeline, and efforts to strengthen economic and security cooperation, according to a statement from the Iraqi prime minister’s media office, Anadolu reports. The discussions took place during expanded talks between delegations from both countries in Damascus. The talks addressed “exporting Iraqi oil through the Baniyas pipeline with an export capacity of up to 2 million barrels per day,” as well as increasing trade, it said, but provided no details on the project’s technical requirements, financing or implementation timeline. The two sides also discussed joint efforts to develop the agricultural sector to achieve greater food and economic integration. Zaidi described Iraqis and Syrians

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  Meet the shortlisted authors of Palestine Book Awards 2026

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Join us for an evening of celebration with the shortlisted authors for Palestine Book Awards 2026! The evening is a chance for you to discuss with the shortlisted authors their works, inspirations and to network with them. Author Hazem Jamjoum will host the event. We will be joined by the following authors: Paul Kohlbry, Samer Al Saber, Nora Lester Murad and Thomas Suarez. The event will be held on Thursday, 12th November 2026 at 6.30pm in P21 Gallery, London, NW1 1JD.   BOOK YOUR FREE TICKET   Please note: Having a ticket does not guarantee entry. Seats will be allocated on a first come, first serve basis so we advise you to be on time when registration opens to avoid disappointment. READ: Announcing the Shortlist

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  Up to 50,000 flee Ethiopia clashes into Kenya, urgently need aid: UN refugee agency

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Up to 50,000 people have crossed from Ethiopia into neighboring Kenya since Thursday to escape ongoing clashes near the border, the UN refugee agency said Wednesday, warning of pressing humanitarian needs, Anadolu reports. UNHCR Representative in Kenya Fatima Mohammed-Cole said in a statement that the estimate came from local authorities and remained subject to verification as people continued to arrive. Many of those fleeing are women and children. Some are staying with relatives or host communities, while others have taken refuge in schools and churches, she said. Food is “the most urgent need,” followed by safe drinking water, emergency shelter, sanitation facilities and health care, according to the agency. UNHCR said it had deployed an emergency response team to the

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  Indonesia should stop selling palm oil to Israel

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Indonesian palm oil is still going to Israel. This week, new reports showed that thousands of tonnes are shipped there every year, even during the genocide in Gaza. The numbers come from Indonesia’s Ministry of Agriculture and its national statistics agency, Statistics Indonesia (BPS). Indonesia sent about 29,600 tonnes of palm oil products to Israel in 2023, about 22,400 tonnes in 2024 and about 19,500 tonnes in 2025. From January to August this year, another 10,400 tonnes went there, together with almost 4,900 tonnes of coconut products. In those eight months, the two products were worth about $20.8 million. Two economists from Widyatama University in Bandung found that from 2020 to 2025, Indonesia supplied on average 71 per cent of

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  Houthis call for evacuation of Yemen’s Aden airport amid escalation

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group urged civilians at Aden International Airport to “immediately evacuate” the facility amid an escalation in fighting between Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Houthis since July, Anadolu reports. “The armed forces reiterate their final call for those present at Aden Airport to immediately evacuate the airport due to the presence of a Saudi military cargo plane transporting weapons to kill the Yemeni people,” group spokesperson Yahya Saree wrote on Telegram. The statement came less than two hours after Saree issued a similar warning to civilians. There was no immediate comment from Saudi officials or the Yemeni government regarding the Houthi statement. Yemen has been mired in conflict since the Houthis seized Sanaa and several provinces in September

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  Arab Joint List extends hand to Eisenkot’s bloc to oust Netanyahu gov’t

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Ahmad Tibi, an Arab member of Israel’s Knesset and head of the predominantly Arab Joint List parliamentary bloc, said the bloc was extending its hand to the “change bloc” to oust the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, Anadolu reports. The “change bloc” is an opposition alliance seeking to replace Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government. It includes former military chief Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party, Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid, Yair Golan’s Democrats, Naftali Bennett’s Beyachad, and Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu. The “massive turnout among Arab citizens is a historic achievement for the Joint List, which answered the public’s call for unity and proved that it is a decisive force without which change is impossible,” Tibi said in a written statement received by Anadolu. “We

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  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators hold silent protest in Netherlands’ Utrecht for 111 weeks

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered at Neude Square in Utrecht, the Netherlands, on Wednesday, continuing a silent protest held every weekday morning for 111 weeks against Israeli attacks in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. Carrying Palestinian flags and banners, protesters stood in the square from 8.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m., calling for an end to the suffering of Palestinians and urging the Dutch government to take action. The demonstration began more than two years ago with a woman silently holding a small sign and has since grown into a solidarity group of around 150 people. Between 10 and 30 participants, including workers, students and retirees, take turns attending the daily protest. READ: Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rally at Columbia University on anniversary

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  Thinking a possible Netanyahu departure changes anything? Think again.

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  The prospect of seeing the architect of Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people, Benjamin Netanyahu, ousted from political office would be a small, albeit completely pyrrhic, ‘victory’. This is a politician who has spent the past three years justifying industrial-scale levels of civilian slaughter, the enforced starvation of an entire civilian population and the complete levelling of the Gaza Strip. He has been the public face of Israel on the global stage for the best part of 20 years, rubbing shoulders with world leaders and garnering support for the expansion of Israel’s settler colonial mission in historic Palestine. As something of a political cockroach, he has managed to survive various high-profile scandals. These include criminal proceedings brought against him on

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  The Blood Between Us: Syria After the Fall of Assad

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  On his way to the airport to leave Damascus, Robin Yassin-Kassab’s car is stopped at a checkpoint by a guard who is friendly, briefly checks the boot and then waves them through. Yassin-Kassab was visiting the new Syria under the transitional government, and his driver told him that under Bashar Al-Assad there had been six checkpoints operated by different security agencies on the route to the airport. You had no way of knowing who you might come across or if any of them would take you away. Now there is one checkpoint and the guards are polite. Yassin-Kassab writes: “Friendly checkpoints are most definitely better than terrifying checkpoints, and one checkpoint is better than six. The difference between this year

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  Netanyahu’s bloc projected to secure 54 seats, Eisenkot-led bloc 49 as Israeli vote count reaches 84%

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to win 54 seats in the 120-member Knesset, seven short of a governing majority, with 84.5% of votes counted in Israel’s parliamentary elections, according to Israeli media. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to secure 49 seats, while predominantly Arab parties were projected to win 17 seats, according to The Times of Israel newspaper, citing the Central Elections Committee. Neither major bloc was projected to reach the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. The predominantly Arab Joint List was projected to win 11 seats, while the United Arab List (Ra’am) was expected to secure six. READ: Amnesty UK slams Israeli elections as ‘apartheid at the ballot box’ Among individual

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  Diabetes patients face life-threatening insulin shortage in Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Diabetes patients in the Gaza Strip are facing growing health risks as shortages of insulin and essential medical supplies continue amid Israeli restrictions on the entry of healthcare materials, Anadolu reports. Umm Amir Jaha, 39, said she has been unable to find unexpired insulin for her 10-year-old son Amir, who has Type 1 diabetes and requires regular insulin treatment. She said the family has been forced to use expired insulin pens purchased at high prices after searching across different areas of Gaza. Amir also needs a blood glucose meter and testing strips to monitor his condition daily, but those supplies have also become difficult to obtain. Jaha said her son has experienced abdominal pain, headaches and pain in his hands

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  Netanyahu’s bloc projected to win 54 seats, Eisenkot-led parties 48 as Israeli vote count reaches 72%

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to win 54 seats in the 120-member Knesset, seven short of a governing majority, as 72.4% of votes were counted in Israel’s parliamentary elections, according to Israeli media. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to secure 48 seats, while predominantly Arab parties were projected to win 18 seats, according to the daily Times of Israel, citing the Central Elections Committee. Neither major bloc was projected to reach the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. The predominantly Arab Joint List was projected to win 12 seats, while the United Arab List (Ra’am) was expected to secure six. READ: Netanyahu’s Likud seeks extension of voting hours in Israeli election Among individual

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  Jordan, Iran discuss efforts to reach sustainable ceasefire between US, Tehran

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi discussed efforts to reach a “sustainable ceasefire agreement” between the United States and Iran during a phone call late Tuesday, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. During the call, which Safadi received from Araghchi, the discussions focused on “efforts to halt escalation and reach a comprehensive solution to the crisis” between Iran and the US, along with an agreement for a “sustainable ceasefire,” according to the ministry. Safadi stressed “the importance of joining efforts to restore calm and achieve lasting security and stability on foundations that ensure the security and stability of all countries in the region.” READ: Jordan, Saudi Arabia discuss efforts to end regional escalation He also

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  Media groups urge EU Commission transparency as Gaza documents probe unfolds

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  A group of 15 media outlets, journalist associations and press freedom organizations urged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Wednesday to improve journalists’ access to public documents, as an inquiry by the EU Ombudswoman into the commission’s refusal to release documents concerning Gaza unfolds, Anadolu reports. In an open letter to von der Leyen, the organizations called on the EU executive to address what they described as a “silent crisis” that has hampered journalists’ efforts to obtain information needed to scrutinize matters of public importance. The appeal comes after European Ombudswoman Teresa Anjinho last week opened an inquiry into a news outlet’s complaint over the commission’s refusal to release 17 documents concerning EU-funded infrastructure projects in the Gaza

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Col. William Keegan: What Will a Second Military Strike Achieve the First Didn’t?

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  WATCH:Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Col. Lawrence Wilkerson: Will the US and Israel Attack Iran Before the Israeli Election?

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  Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE discuss regional de-escalation, with Turkiye-led mediation mechanism in focus

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Egypt discussed regional de-escalation efforts with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, emphasizing coordination through a four-way ministerial mechanism involving Turkiye and Pakistan, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, Anadolu reports. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate phone calls Tuesday with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan, and UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed, the ministry said in two separate statements Wednesday. During his call with bin Farhan, Abdelatty discussed regional developments and “efforts to contain the current crisis amid growing risks of escalation,” stressing the need to “advance political and peaceful solutions through dialogue.” The two foreign ministers agreed to “continue close consultations and coordination bilaterally and through a four-way ministerial mechanism that also includes Turkiye and Pakistan.”

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  Israeli army continues incursions in Hebron for 6th consecutive day amid raids, tightened siege

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  The Israeli army continued its military incursions in Hebron, in the southern occupied West Bank, for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday, carrying out raids and tightening restrictions on the city, according to local sources. Local sources told Anadolu that Israeli forces continued raiding neighborhoods in Hebron and towns across the governorate. Additional Israeli forces, accompanied by military vehicles, raided several towns in the governorate and the al-Fawwar refugee camp south of the city around midnight, entering and searching Palestinian homes, the sources said. The army also tightened military restrictions at the entrances to Hebron. Anadolu cameras documented Israeli forces stopping Palestinians at military checkpoints near the al-Jaladah roundabout in Hebron, searching them and subjecting them to harsh treatment. READ: Palestinian

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  Trump claims his endorsement helped Netanyahu perform better than expected in Israeli election

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said early Wednesday that his endorsement helped Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu perform better than expected in Israel’s parliamentary election, as preliminary results showed his bloc leading but falling short of a governing majority, with less than half of ballot boxes counted, Anadolu reports. With 50% of ballot boxes counted as of early Wednesday, Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to secure 56 seats, five short of a majority in the 120-member Knesset. The opposition bloc, led by Gadi Eisenkot, was projected to win 49 seats. “I think when the endorsement went out, it helped him a lot,” Trump told reporters after returning from campaign rallies in Texas. “I actually heard he did pretty well. It might be

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  Netanyahu’s bloc projected to win 56 seats as Israeli election count nears 50%

  by EditorMehdi on October 28, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc was projected to win 56 seats in the 120-member Knesset, five short of a governing majority, as 49.7% of votes were counted in Israel’s parliamentary elections, Israeli media reported Wednesday. The opposition bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot was projected to secure 49 seats, while predominantly Arab parties were expected to win the remaining 15, according to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, citing the Central Elections Committee. Neither major bloc was projected to reach the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority. The Arab parties could play a decisive role in government formation, as their combined 15 seats would give Eisenkot’s bloc a majority of 64 if they agreed to support it. READ: Netanyahu’s Likud seeks extension

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  UN commission reports more than 1,000 Palestinians killed in West Bank since October 2023

  by Marwa A on October 27, 2026

  The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel said Tuesday that Israeli forces had killed 1,080 Palestinians in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, between Oct. 7, 2023, and Sept. 30, Anadolu reports. Presenting the findings during a hybrid briefing, with all three members participating virtually, Srinivasan Muralidhar of India said the commission documented the deaths and thousands of injuries during the period. Muralidhar said the fatalities included at least 784 men, 237 boys, 22 women and seven girls. He said 10,009 Palestinians had also been injured by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. The commission called for the international community to take stronger measures regarding Israel’s

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  UN urges protection of civilians after Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria

  by Marwa A on October 27, 2026

  The UN on Tuesday called for the protection of civilians and respect for Syria’s sovereignty following Jordanian airstrikes in southern Syria, Anadolu reports. Spokeswoman Daniela Gross De Almeida told reporters that the UN is “closely” monitoring developments and had taken note of statements issued by both Jordanian and Syrian authorities on the operation and its circumstances. “The Secretary-General (Antonio Guterres) condemns any loss of civilian lives, and we underscore the obligation of all parties to take all precautions to protect civilians in line with international law,” said De Almeida. She added that the UN supports efforts by the parties to establish the facts surrounding the incident, while emphasizing the importance of respecting the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of

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  The Mecca Pact courts Iran: Containment comes full circle

  by Marwa A on October 27, 2026

  For nearly half a century, Iran’s adversaries have tried to isolate it, intimidate it, sanction it into submission and bomb it into irrelevance. Now, in a remarkable inversion of regional power politics, three countries historically invested in its containment have arrived in Tehran to discuss their security with the very state they were supposed to marginalise. The country they could not defeat is becoming the country they cannot afford to ignore. Yesterday, Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalın met Iranian officials in an encounter whose diplomatic courtesies barely concealed its strategic significance. The Mecca Pact, the joint defence agreement that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan signed

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  Whose interests does the ceasefire serve?

  by Marwa A on October 27, 2026

  A new report released yesterday by the UN Commission of Inquiry states that Israel is still committing genocide in Gaza after the ceasefire agreement which was reached on 10 October 2025. Referencing earlier reports concluding that Israel had committed war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Gaza, the report goes on to state “The cases investigated for this report … show that the Israeli authorities and forces continue to commit genocidal acts with the genocidal intent to destroy, in whole or in part, the Palestinians in Gaza.” In the occupied West Bank, the report notes, there was an increase in the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli airstrikes: from six between 2008 and 6 October 2023, to 254 between

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  Weighing dependence on Washington: Trump between Zelensky and Netanyahu

  by Marwa A on October 27, 2026

  Within eight days in October, US President Donald Trump made two statements about two wartime leaders that, placed side by side, read like a confession. On 10 October, speaking to reporters as he left the White House, he said of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky: “I think it’s time for Ukraine to get a new president.” He accused Zelensky of passing up the chance to settle the war with Russia “many times, many many times” and of driving up diesel prices by striking Russian oil refineries: “He wants to make problems for our farmers, our ranchers, with diesel fuel.” On 18 October, Trump posted a letter on his Truth Social platform describing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as “a Great Warrior

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  Debris from ballistic missile interception falls in Riyadh, causing material damage

  by Marwa A on October 27, 2026

  Debris from the interception of two ballistic missiles fell in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Tuesday, damaging a building and a construction site, said Saudi Civil Defence, Anadolu reports. The falling debris also caused material damage to a vehicle, it added on X. Saudi officials provided no further details. The latest news comes amid ongoing fighting in Yemen, which has escalated since July, and continued Houthi attacks on Saudi territory using drones and ballistic missiles. READ: Yemen’s Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery

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  Netanyahu’s Likud seeks extension of voting hours in Israeli election

  by Marwa A on October 27, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party requested an extension of voting hours beyond the scheduled 10 pm (2000GMT) closing time Tuesday, as turnout in the country’s parliamentary elections reached a record high for the time of day, Israeli media reported, Anadolu reports. Central Elections Committee Chairman Justice Noam Solberg will decide on the request, according to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. The committee clarified that anyone arriving at a polling station by 10 pm would be allowed to vote, even if they cast their ballot after that time. Voter turnout reached 55.7% by 4 pm Tuesday, the highest recorded for that hour since recordkeeping began in 1973, according to the Central Elections Committee. More than 7.3 million Israelis are eligible

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  Voter turnout in Israeli elections hits 55.7% nine hours into polling, ‘highest ever’ recorded

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Voter turnout in Israel’s hard-fought legislative elections reached 55.7% by 4 pm on Tuesday, the highest figure recorded for that hour since 1973, when records began, according to the Central Elections Committee, Anadolu reports. Din Livneh, the committee’s acting chair, said over 4.08 million voters had cast their ballots, compared with a turnout rate of 47.5% at the same time in the previous elections, according to Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Livneh described the turnout as “the highest it has been” since the committee began recording the data. The number of people who had voted was up 17.2% compared to the corresponding point in the previous elections, in 2002, he added. READ: Netanyahu warns of high Arab voter turnout, urges Likud supporters

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  UN nuclear watchdog chief urges Iran to grant IAEA access to verify nuclear material

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  The head of the UN nuclear watchdog on Tuesday urged Iran to provide the agency with the information and access needed to verify its previously declared nuclear material, including 440 kilograms (970 pounds) of highly enriched uranium, Anadolu reports. The UN Security Council began the session by voting to adopt the agenda, with 11 votes in favor, two against from Russia and China, and two abstentions from Pakistan and Somalia. Addressing the Council, Rafael Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said the agency continues to engage with Tehran, “seeking avenues to encourage it to clarify all remaining safeguards issues.” “One area of particular concern is Iran’s previously declared nuclear material, which includes 440kg of High Enriched

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  Belgian trade unions urge public broadcaster to reverse Eurovision 2027 participation decision

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Trade unions at Belgian public broadcaster VRT urged its management on Tuesday to reconsider its decision to participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest, calling on it to follow the example of the Netherlands, Anadolu reports. The unions urged VRT management not to wait for additional staff action before reversing its decision, after Dutch public broadcasters announced that the Netherlands would not participate in next year’s contest. “Perhaps our management also needs 500 signatures from employees first to reverse its decision. In that case, we will gladly collect them,” Carlos Van Hoeymissen of the ACV-VRT trade union told the broadcaster. He added that conversations showed support for VRT’s participation in the contest was limited. READ: Lithuania says it will not join

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  Israel’s Ben-Gvir blasts Netanyahu over reported US-backed plan to form government without him

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of planning to form a US-backed government that excludes him, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media platform X, Ben-Gvir said Netanyahu had “promised the US administration that, following the election, he would form a unity government with Gadi Eisenkot — and without Ben-Gvir.” His remarks came after newspaper Israel Hayom reported that US President Donald Trump is pushing for a unity government involving Netanyahu and his main challenger Eisenkot, with the Israeli premier reportedly signaling in closed-door talks that he would be willing to abandon his far-right allies to advance the Abraham Accords to normalize ties with Arab countries, including with Saudi Arabia.

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  Arab alliance accuses Netanyahu of using fake image to exaggerate voter turnout

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  The Joint List, an alliance of three Arab parties in Israel, accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday of using a fake image generated by artificial intelligence to exaggerate Arab voter turnout in parliamentary elections, Anadolu reports. Arab lawmaker Ahmad Tibi also challenged Netanyahu’s claims, saying turnout in Jewish towns remained significantly higher than in Arab communities. Netanyahu posted an image on the US social media platform X showing people outside a polling station, claiming it depicted Arab voters in the southern city of Rahat. “This is what is happening today in Rahat. You cannot stay home; go out immediately and vote Likud. We are fighting for our homeland,” he wrote. The premier also shared a photograph of Tibi standing

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  Yemen’s Houthis claim missile attack on Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura oil refinery

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi group claimed Tuesday that it targeted the Ras Tanura oil refinery in eastern Saudi Arabia with a ballistic missile, Anadolu reports. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement on US social media company X that the group’s forces fired a ballistic missile at the refinery in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. Saree claimed the missile hit its target and caused large fires at the site. There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on the claim. Earlier Tuesday, Saudi Civil Defense activated early warning alerts over a potential threat in Najran, Abha and Khamis Mushait before later announcing that the danger had passed, without specifying its nature. READ: Saudi-led coalition intercepts 10 Houthi ballistic missiles targeting southern Saudi

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  Netanyahu accused of treason over bid to drag Israel into Iran war to stay in power

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Former Israeli defence minister Avigdor Lieberman has demanded a criminal investigation into Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged treason, accusing the prime minister of pressuring military leaders into a confrontation with Iran to avert electoral defeat. In a letter to Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, the leader of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party alleged that Netanyahu had spent the past month pushing security chiefs to take steps that could trigger a “miscalculation” with Tehran. “The attempt to drag the State of Israel into war on the eve of elections, together with the willingness to sacrifice Israeli army soldiers solely out of fear of losing the elections, constitutes betrayal of the state, its security and its soldiers,” Lieberman wrote in the Hebrew-language letter. פניתי

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  Iran says oil tanker catches fire after hitting naval mine east of Strait of Hormuz

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  An oil tanker caught fire after striking naval mines east of the Strait of Hormuz, the Iranian Navy said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by Iran’s official IRNA news agency, the Navy said the tanker had switched off its tracking systems and was attempting to pass through a “restricted and unsafe” area when it hit the mines. The vessel sustained damage and caught fire following the incident, according to the statement. The Navy did not provide details on the tanker’s identity, flag, crew or possible casualties. It said the Strait of Hormuz remained “unsafe and closed” to vessels attempting to pass through without coordination. READ: Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says 3 oil tankers hit naval mines in Strait of Hormuz

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  Amnesty UK slams Israeli elections as ‘apartheid at the ballot box’

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Amnesty International UK slammed Israel’s Tuesday elections as “apartheid at the ballot box,” saying millions of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation are being denied the right to vote while Israeli settlers living on Palestinian land can cast ballots, Anadolu reports. “As polls opened, Palestinians in Hebron are locked down in their own (West Bank) city, with thousands forced from their homes. In Gaza, more than 1,500 people have been killed since the so-called ceasefire began,” Kristyan Benedict, Amnesty International UK’s crisis response manager, said in a statement, referring to the ceasefire reached in October 2025. Calling on the UK government to take action regardless of the election outcome, Benedict said: “No election result will change what the UK government must

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  Netanyahu warns of high Arab voter turnout, urges Likud supporters to vote in Israeli elections

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday issued an urgent appeal to supporters of his Likud party to vote in the country’s general elections, warning of high turnout in Arab communities and the possibility of a left-wing government supported by Arab parties, Anadolu reports. “Buses are heading to the polling stations, and huge lines are being reported in Arab communities,” Netanyahu wrote on US social media company X. “Meanwhile, the right-wing strongholds are not waking up!” he added. Netanyahu warned that unless his supporters mobilized, Israel could end up with what he described as “a government of the Arab parties.” “We must not stay home. Every vote counts!” he said, urging voters to cast their ballots for Likud. In a

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  Israeli police foil stabbing attempt on opposition leader Yair Golan in Tel Aviv during election tour

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Israeli police arrested a man carrying a large knife on Tuesday after approaching opposition politician Yair Golan during an election-day campaign appearance in Tel Aviv in a suspected stabbing attempt, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported. The incident occurred during a voter mobilization tour at Railway Park in Tel Aviv, the Democrats party, which Golan chairs, said in a statement. The party said an unidentified man wearing a jacket approached Golan in a threatening manner before being intercepted by his security guards. As the guards moved toward him, a large knife fell from his clothing, prompting the security team to restrain him and call police, according to the report. Police subsequently arrested the suspect, the newspaper said. READ: Israel reports highest election turnout

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  Scottish politicians say Israeli officials detained them for 8 hours

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Two Scottish politicians said they were detained by Israeli authorities for eight hours and prevented from entering the occupied West Bank while travelling with an international delegation, Anadolu reports. Scottish National Party (SNP) MP Lara Bird and Scottish Greens MSP Kate Nevens were part of a 23-member Progressive International delegation that also included Labour MP Clive Lewis and a former member of the Basque senate. Posting on Instagram, Bird said the group had been questioned and denied entry to the territory. The delegation had intended to “stand alongside Palestinians being attacked for harvesting olives on their own land,” she said. She also said the group was “interrogated and ultimately prevented from crossing the border.” Nevens described the experience as “frightening”

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  Israel reports highest election turnout in 53 years amid strong Arab, opposition participation

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Voter turnout in Israel’s general elections reached 31.5% by noon local time (1000GMT) on Tuesday, the highest level recorded at that hour since 1973, according to the Central Elections Committee, Anadolu reports. A total of 2.39 million Israelis had cast their ballots by noon, an increase of more than 3 percentage points compared with the previous election, according to the committee. Extremist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attributed the high turnout to exceptionally strong participation among Arab voters and in left-wing strongholds. In a social media post, Smotrich said the increase in participation was driven by unusually high voting rates in Arab communities and areas traditionally supporting left-wing parties. Arab Knesset member Ahmad Tibi also reported unusually high participation, expressing confidence

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  Hozier, Kneecap join Macklemore at sold-out launch of Free Palestine tour

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Irish artists Hozier, Kneecap and Beoga joined US rapper Macklemore as surprise guests Monday at the sold-out opening of his Free Palestine tour in Dublin, Anadolu reports. The concert at the 13,000-capacity 3Arena marked the first European date of the benefit tour Macklemore organized after being removed from Ed Sheeran’s US tour over his public support for Palestine. “I am proud to stand here on stage in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” Macklemore told the audience. “We will continue to fight for collective liberation until our last breath.” Palestinian flags and keffiyehs were visible throughout the arena as the audience repeatedly chanted “Free Palestine.” “Six weeks ago, two words is all that it took,” Macklemore said, referring to the declaration

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  Nusseibeh’s bid to lead UN sparks backlash over accusations of covering up Sudan genocide

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Accused of covering up the UAE’s support for a militia implicated in genocide in Sudan, Lana Nusseibeh is now seeking to lead the United Nations, drawing fierce opposition from human rights advocates and commentators. The UAE has nominated its former UN ambassador to succeed António Guterres as secretary-general. Her candidacy has won the backing of Gulf governments, while Britain is reportedly considering supporting her. But her defence of Abu Dhabi’s conduct in Sudan has prompted critics to question whether she can credibly lead the organisation. The backlash centres on Nusseibeh’s fitness for the job, given her defence of the UAE against allegations that it supplied weapons and mercenaries to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), the paramilitary group fighting Sudan’s army. 

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  Iran’s supreme leader calls for meeting Tehran’s conditions to end war

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on Tuesday called for ensuring that Tehran’s conditions are met to end the war, according to an official statement, Anadolu reports. Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with the head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Mohsen Rezaei, who briefed him on the country’s security situation and ongoing efforts in various sectors. The Iranian leader stressed the need to safeguard the rights and interests of the Iranian people and what Tehran calls the “resistance front” by fulfilling the conditions set by Iranian officials for ending the conflict with the US. He described the Supreme National Security Council as a central body for managing state affairs, emphasizing coordination among political, economic, cultural and security institutions.

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  Jordan says strikes in Syria killed over 20 ISIS members as Damascus condemns attacks

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Jordan said Tuesday that its airstrikes in southern Syria killed more than 20 ISIS (Daesh) terrorists and destroyed a major weapons depot, while Damascus condemned the operation as a violation of its sovereignty and reported several casualties, Anadolu reports. Jordanian government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said the strikes were conducted after Amman had “run out of patience” with the movements of terrorist groups and threats to its national security. “The operation was based on field intelligence aimed at neutralizing confirmed threats and planned terrorist attacks against Jordan,” he said. “Initial results of this operation indicate significant losses among ISIS, estimated at more than 20 members, as well as the destruction of a major weapons depot belonging to the group,” Momani said.

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  Israel bars international delegation from West Bank conference at Birzeit University

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Tuesday barred an international delegation of 23 lawmakers, politicians and academics from entering the occupied West Bank to attend an international conference at Birzeit University near Ramallah, Anadolu reports. The university said in a statement that the delegation was due to participate in a conference organized by its Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies, north of Ramallah, with participants from several countries. Israeli authorities first prevented the delegation from entering the West Bank through the Allenby Bridge, also known as King Hussein Bridge, with Jordan on Monday, the university said. The delegation attempted to enter again on Tuesday but was denied entry for a second time, the university’s public relations department told Anadolu. According to the conference

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  Thousands displaced as Israeli army continues offensive in West Bank’s Hebron

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  The Israeli army continued a large-scale offensive in the West Bank city of Hebron for a fifth consecutive day on Tuesday, forcing nearly 5,000 Palestinians from their homes, Anadolu reports. The Hebron municipality said in a statement that 4,969 Palestinians from 780 families have been forcibly displaced from the Deir Bahha and Al-Jilda areas since the Israeli military campaign began on Friday. Among those displaced are 336 infants, 441 elderly people, 216 pregnant and nursing women, 44 people with disabilities and 312 people suffering from chronic illnesses, the statement said. The municipality said the figures document families forced out from their homes since the start of the Israeli campaign amid growing humanitarian consequences, particularly for people requiring special care. The

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  Israeli opposition urges voters to turn out to end Netanyahu’s rule

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Israeli opposition leaders on Tuesday urged voters to turn out in large numbers in the country’s parliamentary elections to end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rule, Anadolu reports. Voting began at 7 am local time (0500GMT) and is scheduled to continue until 10 pm (2000GMT). Opposition Yisrael Beiteinu party leader and former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman called on Israelis to vote to bring an end to Netanyahu’s political era. “Vote. Let’s put an end to the Netanyahu era and the rule of the Haredim,” Lieberman wrote on US social media company X, referring to ultra-Orthodox religious groups. Netanyahu has headed Israel’s current right-wing government since late December 2022, which has been described as the most far-right in the country’s history. Meanwhile,

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  Netanyahu’s Likud plans to film Arab voters outside Israel’s polling stations: Report

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party plans to deploy teams to film Arab voters outside polling stations during Tuesday’s general elections, potentially using the footage to support claims of electoral fraud if the party suffers major losses, Haaretz daily reported. The newspaper said Likud has spent millions of shekels recruiting and paying workers to monitor polling stations in Arab communities, record voters and report developments to party headquarters in real time. The teams, established in recent weeks, will operate outside polling stations rather than inside them, allowing them to avoid the strict regulations governing official election observers. According to the report, senior Likud officials have also discussed launching a campaign alleging that the elections were rigged if the party