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

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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

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  Kuwait sentences three to death over plot to assassinate interior minister, alleged links to Iran and Hezbollah

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  A Kuwaiti court has sentenced three individuals to death and eight others to five years in prison in a case involving an alleged plot to assassinate Interior Minister Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousef and accusations of collusion with Iran and the Lebanese group Hezbollah. The verdict was issued by Kuwait’s State Security and Terrorism Crimes Court, presided over by Judge Nasser Al-Bader, alongside judges Omar Al-Mulaifi, Abdullah Al-Faleh and Salem Al-Zayed. According to the prosecution, the defendants faced charges of collaborating with foreign entities, planning hostile acts against Kuwait, targeting senior government officials, joining a banned organization and engaging in activities deemed harmful to national interests. The charges also included plans to use explosives in the assassination attempt and create panic among

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  Israel rejects UN commission’s findings on genocide and crimes against humanity as “political propaganda”

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Israel on Monday rejected the findings of a UN-mandated investigative commission accusing it of committing crimes against humanity, including extermination, against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and continuing to commit genocide in the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed the commission’s report as “political propaganda,” rejecting its conclusions concerning Israeli actions in the Palestinian territories. “This is not a human rights report, but a document of political propaganda detached from reality,” the ministry said. It accused the commission of seeking to “undermine Israel’s right to self-defence, delegitimise the Jewish state, and legitimise jihadist terrorism against its citizens.” The Israeli response followed the commission’s findings concerning violations against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank

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  Iran and “Mecca Pact” countries agree to continue talks amid fears of renewed regional conflict

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Iran and representatives of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey have agreed to continue diplomatic discussions following an initial meeting in Tehran, amid growing concerns over a renewed escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The talks brought together officials from the three countries that signed the “Mecca Pact” joint defence agreement, as regional tensions intensify following renewed hostilities involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi movement. Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman traveled to Tehran for the meeting, alongside Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir, Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin and other senior officials. According to a statement from the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation’s visit was intended to “de-escalate the current crisis and promote dialogue and diplomatic solutions.”

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  World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder says Israel is becoming a “banana republic”

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder has sharply criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, warning that Israel is increasingly resembling a “banana republic” and accusing the prime minister of concentrating power in his own hands while prioritizing personal political interests over those of the state. In an interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, Lauder, an American billionaire and former close ally of Netanyahu, expressed growing concern over Israel’s political direction and the erosion of its democratic institutions. Lauder said he had decided to break his long-standing silence because he feared for the future of a country he had spent much of his life supporting. His criticism focused on what he described as Netanyahu’s increasingly centralised style of governance, in which

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  Israeli media reports deepening rift between Netanyahu and army chief over Iran preparations ahead of elections

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Tensions between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir have intensified ahead of the Knesset elections, amid disagreements over military preparations involving Iran and reports that Netanyahu intends to dismiss Zamir if he remains in power. Israeli television Channels 12 and 13 reported Monday evening that the dispute had escalated into a confrontation over potential military actions involving Iran and the ongoing Israeli military operation in Hebron. According to Channel 13, Netanyahu said during closed-door discussions, “I will fire the Chief of Staff if I win the election.” Channel 12 also cited sources familiar with the matter who said Zamir was unlikely to remain in his position if Netanyahu were tasked with forming the next

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  Senior Turkish military commander arrives in Egypt amid closer defence ties

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Turkey’s Land Forces Commander, General Metin Tokel, has arrived in Cairo on an official visit as military relations between Egypt and Turkey continue to develop. Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Salih Mutlu Sen said he welcomed Tokel at East Cairo Military Airport upon his arrival. He did not disclose details of the visit’s programme or when talks with Egyptian military officials would take place. The visit comes amid closer ties between Cairo and Ankara, with both countries taking steps in recent months to strengthen defence and military cooperation and coordinate on several regional issues. READ: Turkiye’s Havelsan, Egyptian AOI ink sales deal for jointly developed drone In June, Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Ahmed Khalifa met his Turkish counterpart,

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  International statement warns of imminent famine in Sudan

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Dozens of countries, including the United States and major European powers, have warned of a worrying deterioration in food security in Sudan and called on the warring parties to remove all obstacles to humanitarian aid. In a joint statement, the countries urged the international community to increase funding and called on financial institutions to adapt their existing programmes to address the food security situation amid the risk of famine.  “Sudan is experiencing a worrying deterioration in food security. The risk of famine in the coming months, warned of by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), requires urgent action,” the joint statement, published by the US State Department, said. READ: UN warns Sudan conflict shows no sign of easing, urges parties

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  US senator calls for accountability over Israel’s killing of 9 Americans in occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  US Senator Chris Van Hollen renewed his call for accountability for nine American citizens killed by Israel in the occupied West Bank since 2022, Anadolu reports. “I want to take a few minutes to tell my colleagues about these nine American citizens who’ve been killed by Israeli settlers or Israeli security forces in just over the last four years,” Van Hollen said in a Senate floor speech shared in a video on his X account. He named the dead as Omar Assad, 78; Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, 51; Tawfic Abdel Jabbar, 17; Mohammad Khdour, 17; Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, 26; Amer Rabee, 14; Saif Musallet, 20; Khamis Ayyad, 40; and Nasrallah Abu Siyam, 19. He said Israeli

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  Israel votes with Netanyahu’s future on the line

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Voting began Tuesday in Israel’s parliamentary elections, with more than 7.3 million people eligible to cast ballots to elect the 120-member Knesset, Anadolu reports. Polling stations opened at 7 am local time (0500GMT) and are scheduled to close at 10 pm (2000GMT), according to Israel’s Central Elections Committee. A total of 12,018 polling stations and approximately 18,000 ballot boxes have been prepared nationwide, with around 100,000 election workers deployed. Thirty-seven parties and electoral lists are competing in the elections, with at least 61 seats required to form a governing coalition. The main contenders include Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, former Army Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party and the Together alliance led by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.

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  Hamas says UN report provides new evidence of Israeli crimes and impunity

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Hamas said on Monday that a new UN report documenting war crimes and crimes against humanity by Israeli forces in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, and warning that the genocide in Gaza was continuing, provided further evidence of the scale of violations against Palestinians and the impunity enjoyed by those responsible. In a statement, the Palestinian group said the atrocities and systematic violations outlined in the report reflected the failure of the United Nations and the international community to fulfil their legal and moral responsibilities and prevent such crimes. Hamas called on the UN and the international community, including all its institutions and member states, to take serious action to implement the report’s recommendations, particularly decisive measures to end

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  Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia agree to continue regional security cooperation

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have agreed to continue dialogue to strengthen cooperation on regional peace and security, according to a joint statement issued after a four-way meeting in Tehran. The statement said the four countries had agreed to continue dialogue to enhance cooperation, including in the fields of regional peace and security. The first meeting of the four countries was held in the Iranian capital on Monday, 26 October 2026. The meeting was hosted by Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. Saudi Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Turkish intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin also attended. READ: Pakistan can mediate between Washington and Tehran, but it cannot manufacture trust Participants agreed to

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  Erdogan says EU objections to Turkey-Libya maritime deal have no legal basis

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the European Union’s objections to the memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya on maritime jurisdiction areas have no legal basis. Speaking after a cabinet meeting he chaired in Ankara on Monday, Erdogan said: “The memorandum of understanding between Turkey and Libya protects the rights of both countries in the eastern Mediterranean, and there is no legal basis for the objections raised by the European Union and other parties. We expect the EU and other concerned parties to adopt a constructive approach.”  He added: “I would like to reiterate that we expect all parties seeking to exclude Turkey from the eastern Mediterranean to respect the shared will of our country and Libya.” “We

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  Egypt warns of repercussions following Ben-Gvir’s Al-Aqsa Mosque incursion

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  Egypt has condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s entry into Al-Aqsa Mosque, accompanied by hundreds of settlers and protected by Israeli police, saying such actions violate the sanctity of Islamic holy sites and the historical and legal status quo in occupied East Jerusalem. In a statement on Monday, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry warned that continued violations at Al-Aqsa Mosque could escalate tensions and threaten regional stability. Egypt reiterated its rejection of any attempts to change the status quo at the mosque or impose a temporal or spatial division there. It called on the international community to fulfil its responsibilities, work to halt such practices and ensure respect for relevant international resolutions. READ: Israel’s Ben-Gvir uses fines against mosques in election campaigning

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  Egypt’s regime persecutes journalists

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  The assault on an Egyptian journalist, who was beaten and dragged along the ground outside 6 October Central Hospital, west of Cairo, just days ago, highlighted the risks journalists face in Egypt. A video (https://h1.nu/1GKSf), widely shared on social media, shows around seven people beating and dragging journalist Mohamed Faisal and detaining him inside the hospital while he was reporting. One of the assailants claims to be an “army officer”, reflecting the wider security crackdown on Egyptians, particularly journalists. Faisal, who works for the government-authorised website Besraha, received a public apology from Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, who also decided to terminate the contract with the security company responsible. The incident, however, reopened old wounds among journalists. Since Abdel Fattah

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  Book of Wills

  by EditorMehdi on October 27, 2026

  “In Gaza, where the world wavers between silence and forgetting, the written word becomes a final sanctuary – a fragile, luminous act of survival,” Reem Ghanayem writes in the Editor’s Note to the bilingual edition of Book of Wills (Akoya Publishing, 2026). Both erasure and preservation are recorded in this collection of brief writings from Gaza during the genocide. As the writers in this anthology address various people, including the readers themselves, there is no escaping the importance of language.  “Language is a feeble tool,” Alberto Manguel writes in the foreword. “And yet, despite the impossibility of finding language adequate to address a victim’s suffering, when confronted with that suffering, our human condition impels us to speak.”  The book opens

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  EU’s Kallas warns of ‘serious risk’ of renewed US-Iran escalation

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned Monday of a serious risk of renewed escalation between the US and Iran, saying further confrontation would benefit neither side, Anadolu reports. “There is a serious risk of renewed escalation between the United States and Iran, and any new escalation would only have losers,” Kallas said at a news conference following the European Group of Five defense ministers’ meeting in Paris. Her remarks came as she outlined discussions on the Middle East, maritime security and European defense readiness. Kallas said the EU’s naval Operation Aspides was helping keep cargo and oil flowing through the Red Sea. “I want to thank France, Italy and Greece for their important contributions to this operation,” she said.

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  Israel votes Tuesday in closely contested election as Netanyahu faces challenge from Eisenkot

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  Israelis head to the polls Tuesday in a closely contested parliamentary election that could end Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s long rule or leave the country facing another political deadlock, with neither major bloc projected to secure a governing majority, Anadolu reports. The vote will be Israel’s first general election since the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks and the subsequent Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, as well as military confrontations with Lebanon and Iran. It will also be the first Israeli general election held on schedule since 1988, following decades in which successive governments collapsed before completing their four-year terms. Around 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, including approximately 1.2 million Palestinian citizens of Israel. Voting will take place at

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  Israel’s Mossad chief backed swift Iran operation opposed by army chief: Report

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  The head of Israeli spy agency the Mossad backed a swift military operation against Iran proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, while army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir opposed it, Israeli media reported Monday, on the eve of the country’s pivotal general elections, with Netanyahu’s post at stake, Anadolu reports. Daily Israel Hayom said Netanyahu pushed for the operation but faced opposition from Zamir, who had not been informed of it in advance, while Mossad chief Roman Gofman supported the proposal. The daily quoted an unnamed source familiar with the discussions as saying the operation “could have led to renewed war with Iran,” although it would not have amounted to a resumption of an intensive military offensive. Israeli opposition figures

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  Lula’s victory is a cry for sovereignty against imperialism

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory in the second round of Brazil’s presidential election safeguards the country’s path towards determining its own destiny and contributing to the construction of a less unequal international order. For me, his victory over Flávio Bolsonaro also represents a defeat for the project of subordinating Brazilian foreign policy to the priorities of the United States and Israel. The ballot box has renewed the responsibility to translate diplomatic independence into development, solidarity and the defence of peace. According to Brazil’s Superior Electoral Court (TSE), Lula secured 64,256,232 votes, representing 51.79 per cent of valid ballots, against Flávio Bolsonaro’s 59,826,041 votes, or 48.21 per cent — a margin of 4,430,191 votes. In the first round, Lula had

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  Hind Rajab Foundation files UK criminal complaint against Israeli soldier over Gaza war crimes

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  The Hind Rajab Foundation (HRF) has filed a criminal complaint with UK authorities against Israeli soldier Lidor Dafna over alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and acts of genocide committed in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. The foundation said in a statement Sunday that Dafna, a reservist serving as a D9 armored bulldozer operator in the 603rd Combat Engineering Battalion of the 7th Armored Brigade, participated in military operations in Gaza and Lebanon from November 2023 onward. The foundation said it has reason to believe he is currently in the UK. The complaint focuses on the destruction of Great Ocean Mills, an industrial flour-producing facility in the Morag Corridor between Khan Younis and Rafah, on May 25, 2025. According to

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  Israel enters election silence period ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary vote

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  Israel entered an election silence period Monday ahead of Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, Anadolu’s correspondent reported. The period will remain in effect until the last polling station closes at 10 pm local time (2000GMT) Tuesday. OPINION: Israeli elections and the limits of change

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  Algeria to deploy troops to Niger to protect shared energy, economic interests

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  Algeria announced Monday that it would deploy military units to neighboring Niger at the request of Nigerien authorities to protect the two countries’ shared energy and economic interests, Anadolu reports. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, who also serves as supreme commander of the armed forces and national defense minister, approved the deployment, the Algerian presidency said in a statement. The move aims to “ensure the protection of shared Algerian-Nigerien energy and economic interests,” it added. The presidency said the decision was taken in accordance with the Constitution, particularly Articles 30 and 91, following a request from Niger’s authorities. Both chambers of Algeria’s parliament — the Council of the Nation and the People’s National Assembly — unanimously approved the deployment during closed-door plenary

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  Iran ready to take steps toward regional cooperation, resolving differences: President

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country is ready to take steps toward deepening regional cooperation and resolving differences, the official IRNA news agency reported Monday. Speaking during a meeting in Tehran with officials from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan, the members of the Mecca Defense Alliance, Pezeshkian stressed the need to strengthen unity and cooperation among Muslim countries. “The Islamic Republic of Iran, with firm conviction and serious determination, is ready to take steps toward deepening regional cooperation, resolving differences and drawing on the shared capabilities of Islamic countries,” he said. READ: Iranian parliament speaker threatens ‘unpredictable’ response to any attack, warns US He noted that Tehran supports any understanding that contributes to strengthening regional unity, cohesion, security, and development.​​​​​​​

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  Egypt’s parliament approves military support for Saudi Arabia

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  Egypt’s House of Representatives on Monday approved President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s request for military assistance to Saudi Arabia, according to a parliamentary statement, Anadolu reports. The approval followed closed-door discussions on authorizing military support to the kingdom, including the possible deployment of troops, amid escalating regional tensions. Parliament said the authorization, approved by a two-thirds majority, allows Sisi to take measures in coordination with Saudi Arabia to defend the kingdom’s territory, sovereignty and holy sites. The decision followed closed-door sessions held on Oct. 18, 19 and 26 at the president’s request, the statement said. Lawmakers discussed regional developments and their implications for Egyptian and Arab national security, with representatives from different political parties and independent lawmakers participating, it added. READ: Egypt

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  Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran hold quadrilateral meeting in Tehran

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  A quadrilateral meeting between delegations from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Iran began in the Iranian capital Tehran on Monday, with talks set to focus on regional security, Israel’s activities in the region, and developments in Palestine and Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The meeting, hosted by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei, brought together delegations from Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Both Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are attending the meeting, while Turkiye is represented by National Intelligence Organization (MIT) Director Ibrahim Kalin, Saudi Arabia by Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman, and Pakistan by Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir. READ: Turkiye, Qatar, Indonesia and Pakistan sign defense cooperation pact

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  Extremist Israeli minister storms Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque on eve of elections

  by EditorMehdi on October 26, 2026

  Extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Monday under heavy police protection on the eve of Israel’s general elections, Anadolu reports. Israeli Channel 7 reported that Ben-Gvir entered the flashpoint site amid tight security measures and performed prayers at the Al-Buraq Wall (Western Wall), the western portion of the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex Al-Aqsa Mosque is the world’s third-holiest site for Muslims. Jews call the area Temple Mount, claiming it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times. A photo published by the channel showed Ben-Gvir surrounded by Israeli police officers and special units inside the mosque compound. READ: Netanyahu says Ben-Gvir will hold prominent ministerial position in next government Ben-Gvir had