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

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  Jerusalem Governorate warns of Israeli plan to seize Palestinian properties near Al-Aqsa Mosque

  by MI on May 18, 2026

  The Jerusalem Governorate called for urgent international intervention after Israeli authorities approved a plan to seize Palestinian properties in the Bab al-Silsila area near the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. In a statement issued on Sunday, the governorate described the move as a “dangerous colonial escalation” aimed at displacing Palestinian residents and tightening Israeli control over areas surrounding Al-Aqsa Mosque in the occupied Old City of Jerusalem. According to the statement, the decision implements an earlier recommendation approved by a former Israeli minister responsible for Jerusalem affairs and heritage, reactivating a confiscation order dating back to 1968 under the stated pretext of enhancing Jewish control and security in the area. The governorate said the plan targets between 15 and 20 historic Palestinian

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  Netanyahu says Israeli army nearing completion of Gaza mission, signals readiness for all Iran scenarios

  by MI on May 18, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israeli army is approaching the completion of its military campaign in the Gaza Strip following the killing of senior Hamas leaders. Speaking during the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel would continue targeting Palestinian faction leaders, stating: “We eliminated the number one in Hamas, (Haddad), and all the architects of the 7th October attack will be eliminated; we are very close to completing the mission.” Netanyahu also addressed tensions with Iran, saying Israel is prepared for “every scenario” and remains in close coordination with the United States. He announced plans to hold another phone call later on Sunday with US President Donald Trump, adding that communication between the two sides takes

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  The crisis of leadership in the West: From the charisma of ideas to the tyranny of public relations

  by MI on May 18, 2026

  During his official visit to Beijing, President Donald Trump faced a challenge of a peculiar kind. A White House official later revealed that the President was strictly prohibited from using his personal smartphone due to stringent security protocols imposed by Chinese authorities. For a man who views that small screen as an intercontinental political weapon, the measure was nothing short of “disarmament.” Trump’s phone was never merely a tool for communication; it was a launchpad for threats, warnings, and sarcastic remarks capable of shifting global discourse at the swipe of a finger. This single episode encapsulates our contemporary reality: the mobile phone has mutated from a communication device into the primary steering wheel of the modern world, where politics is

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  Unknown vessels surround Gaza aid flotilla

  by MI on May 18, 2026

  The Global Sumud Flotilla said it had detected unidentified vessels near its convoy heading to break the blockade on Gaza. Activists aboard the flotilla said in posts on X that ships and fast boats had been seen moving in front of the convoy, behind it and along one of its sides. The development came shortly after the flotilla announced it had reached international waters in the Mediterranean Sea. On Thursday, the convoy of 54 vessels set sail from the Turkish Mediterranean city of Marmaris in a new attempt to break the Israeli blockade imposed on Gaza. The flotilla includes members of the Global Sumud Flotilla’s board of directors, among them Sumeyra Akdeniz Ordu, Dr Imane Al-Makhloufi, Saif Abu Keshk, Ko

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  Israeli military to implement death penalty against Palestinian attackers in West Bank

  by MI on May 18, 2026

  Hebrew media reported that Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has instructed the implementation of the death penalty against Palestinians accused of carrying out attacks in the occupied West Bank, a move previously pushed by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.  Israel’s Channel 14 said that, under Katz’s instructions, the death penalty “will be adopted as the first option and punishment against any attacker arrested alive after killing Israelis”. The channel added that the decision was signed on Sunday by the commander of the Israeli army’s Central Command, Major General Avi Bluth, following Katz’s directive to begin enforcing the law According to the report, the order allows the implementation of the death penalty against attackers in the West Bank in line

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  Qatar warns against using Strait of Hormuz as ‘bargaining chip’

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani warned against using the Strait of Hormuz as a “bargaining chip” during a phone call Sunday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Anadolu reports. According to a statement by Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, the two officials reviewed efforts aimed at achieving peace and enhancing regional security and stability. Sheikh Mohammed reiterated Qatar’s “full support for efforts aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement to end the crisis,” stressing the need for all parties to respond positively to mediation efforts “in a way that contributes to achieving lasting peace and stability in the region,” the ministry said. He also stressed that freedom of navigation is “a firmly established principle that is not open to

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  ‘Clock is ticking’ for Iran, warns US President Trump

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Sunday warned Iran, saying the “Clock is Ticking” for them to “get moving” before “there won’t be anything left of them,” Anadolu reports. His remarks came amid repeated threats for Tehran to agree to a ceasefire. “TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” he said on his Truth Social media account. READ: US outlines 5 conditions for Iran deal: Report  

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  Pakistani, Egyptian top diplomats discuss regional situation amid Mideast conflict

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty on Sunday discussed the “evolving” regional situation amid the Mideast conflict, Anadolu reports. During a phone call, Abdelatty appreciated Pakistan’s “sincere efforts for promoting regional peace and stability,” said a statement from Islamabad’s Foreign Ministry. They also discussed matters related to the regional consultative forum of the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt, covering ongoing engagements at the UN Security Council and broader multilateral diplomatic developments, it said. Abdelatty also commended Pakistan’s facilitation in the repatriation of 20 Iranian and 11 Pakistani seafarers via Singapore, who had been aboard vessels seized by the United States. READ: US outlines 5 conditions for Iran deal: Report “Both sides agreed

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  China, US, UAE police carry out 1st joint operation in Dubai targeting telecom, online fraud

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Police from China, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates have carried out their first joint international operation in Dubai targeting telecom and online fraud, China’s Ministry of Public Security said on Sunday, Anadolu reports. During the operation, police dismantled nine fraud dens and arrested 276 suspects, according to the state-run news agency Xinhua. Investigations found that the fraud rings lured victims by faking romantic relationships on social media and building trust before tricking them into investing in so-called high-return cryptocurrency schemes, which resulted in financial losses. The joint operation marks a major milestone in Chinese police efforts to strengthen international law enforcement cooperation, a ministry official said. “Chinese police will continue to deepen pragmatic cooperation with more countries,

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  Iran, Trump, and the cracks in American power

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  If there is one thing that now appears irreversible, it is that Iran did not lose this war and that the United States and Israel have collectively looked irrational and overconfident in their predictions. The assumption that overwhelming military pressure would quickly subdue Tehran has not materialised. Instead, the conflict has exposed the limits of American coercive power in West Asia and revealed the dangers of strategic arrogance dressed up as certainty. It increasingly appears that Washington’s room for manoeuvre is constrained by Benjamin Netanyahu’s escalation strategy and the influence of the pro-Israel lobby within American politics.  For decades, Washington relied on military superiority, sanctions, diplomatic intimidation, and regional alliances to discipline adversaries into submission. Iran, however, neither collapsed internally

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  Jerusalem Governorate condemns Israel’s plan to turn UNRWA compound into military facilities

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  The Jerusalem Governorate on Sunday described Israeli approval to convert the former compound of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood into Israeli military facilities as “a dangerous escalation and a serious breach of international law,” Anadolu reports. In a statement, the governorate called on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to take urgent steps to refer Israel to the International Court of Justice if it does not revoke laws and measures targeting UNRWA. Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli government approved plans to establish an office for Defense Minister Israel Katz, an Israeli army museum, and a military recruitment office on the site of the former UNRWA compound in Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem. A joint statement

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  Iranian president praises neighbors for preventing ‘misuse of territory’ against Iran

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Sunday hailed “valuable and commendable” cooperation with neighboring countries in preventing what he called “any misuse of their territories” against Iran, Anadolu Agency reports. Speaking during a meeting with Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Tehran, Pezeshkian said greater unity among Islamic countries would reduce “the possibility of interference and adventurism by extra-regional powers and the Zionist regime,” the presidency said in a statement. “The main objective of the United States and the Zionist regime (Israel) in attacking the Islamic Republic of Iran was to create internal instability and attempt to weaken and overthrow the Islamic system,” he said. Pezeshkian added that Iran’s people had demonstrated “cohesion, strength and loyalty” by standing beside the country

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  Egyptian president inaugurates $15B New Delta agricultural development project

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi inaugurated the “New Delta” agricultural development project on Sunday in northwestern Egypt with total investments estimated at 800 billion Egyptian pounds (approximately $15 billion), Anadolu reports. The project aims to enhance food security and achieve self-sufficiency in strategic commodities, according to Egypt’s State Information Service. The project extends across desert hinterlands, linking the governorates of Beheira, Giza, and Matrouh in northwestern Egypt. The targeted area of the project spans 2.2 million feddans, equivalent to around 15% of Egypt’s current agricultural land, making it “the largest horizontal agricultural expansion in the history of modern Egyptian agriculture,” according to the state body. The project’s infrastructure includes the construction of 19 major pumping stations to transport water against

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  Iran: China’s quiet hedging strategy in the Middle East

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  China’s growing engagement with Iran increasingly reveals that Tehran is no longer merely a regional issue confined to Middle Eastern politics. Iran has become part of Beijing’s wider geopolitical calculation in an era shaped by intensifying great-power rivalry and a rapidly shifting global order. Recent meetings between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing reflected more than routine bilateral diplomacy. China once again emphasised the importance of regional stability, the security of global energy routes, and the need to keep the Strait of Hormuz open for international trade. At the same time, discussions involving Iran and the broader Middle East have become deeply intertwined with strategic conversations between China and the United States over

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  Police arrest 43 in central London to prevent clashes during rival protests

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Forty-three people were arrested on Saturday during a large public order operation in central London involving more than 4,000 officers, the Metropolitan Police said, Anadolu reports. The operation was designed to create a “sterile zone” between two opposing demonstrations: a rally organized by Islamophobic activist Tommy Robinson and a pro-Palestinian protest. According to the police, 20 of those arrested were linked to the “Unite the Kingdom” protest, 12 to the “Nakba” protest, and 11 were either unrelated to either group or could not be identified. READ: Nakba Day march in London The police said 11 of the arrests related to hate crime offenses. Of those, two are linked to the Nakba protest and nine to Unite the Kingdom. The offenses, they

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  ‘Syria now laboratory for new regional alignment of diplomacy,’ says US envoy

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  US Special Envoy for Syria Tom Barrack said on Sunday that “Syria is now a laboratory for a new regional alignment of diplomacy, integration and hope for the entire region,” Anadolu reports. Barrack’s remarks came in a post on the US social media company X, following a Saturday meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to discuss developments in Syria and the region. Under Sharaa’s leadership and with “the dedicated diplomacy” of Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, Syria has achieved “remarkable” progress, said the envoy. The opportunities ahead offer “exponential advancement” for the Syrian people and enduring stability, he added. The meeting took place at the People’s Palace in Damascus. The Syrian Arab News Agency reported the two sides discussed “developments in

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  UK deploys low-cost anti-drone missile system to Middle East

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Britain has deployed a new low-cost missile system to the Middle East in a move aimed at strengthening protection against drone attacks targeting “UK forces, citizens and regional partners,” Anadolu reports. The Ministry of Defense said in a statement on Saturday that the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) has now been fitted to RAF Typhoon fighter jets operating in the region, allowing the aircraft to destroy drones and other threats at “a fraction of the price” of the missiles currently in use. “The system has now been deployed on operations in the Middle East with sorties flown by 9 Squadron RAF Typhoon fighter jets as part of the missions to defend British people, interests and partners from threats,” it noted.

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  US outlines 5 conditions for Iran deal: Report

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  The United States has outlined five key conditions to reach a deal with Tehran, including “allowing only one Iranian nuclear facility to remain operational,” Iran’s semi-official Fars news agency reported on Sunday. Washington’s four other conditions include refusing to pay any compensation or damages, demanding the transfer of 400 kilograms of Iranian uranium to the United States, withholding the release of even 25% of Iran’s frozen assets, and conditioning any halt to the war on all fronts on the outcome of negotiations, the report said. For its part, Iran’s key conditions include ending the war across all fronts, including in Lebanon, lifting sanctions, releasing frozen Iranian assets, compensating for war damage, and “recognition of Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of

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  Fire breaks out near nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi after drone strike, officials say

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  A fire caused by a drone strike broke out near the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, Emirati officials said on Sunday, Anadolu reports. “Authorities in Abu Dhabi responded to a fire incident that broke out in an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in the Al Dhafra Region, caused by a drone strike,” the Abu Dhabi Media Office said on the US social media company X. “No injuries were reported, and there was no impact on radiological safety levels,” it added. The office said all precautionary measures have been implemented. READ: US officials pushing UAE to seize Iranian island: Report “The fire did not affect the safety of the power plant or the

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  Iranian parliament speaker appointed as special envoy to China: Report

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf has been appointed as Tehran’s special envoy to China, according to a Sunday report by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. Qalibaf “will serve as a coordinator of various national bodies in matters related to China,” said the report, citing informed sources. The appointment was proposed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and approved by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, Tasnim noted. “Given the nature of Qalibaf’s appointment, his mandate carries a different level of authority compared to previous representatives,” it said, citing the sources. The report did not provide information on whether Qalibaf would continue his role as the parliament speaker. READ: Beijing extends support to Iran amid conflict with US ahead of Trump’s China trip

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  Israel cannot destroy all Hezbollah weapons without ‘political breakthrough’: Israeli source

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Israel cannot destroy Hezbollah’s weapons even if it occupies the entire southern Lebanon in the absence of a “political breakthrough,” an Israeli security source said Sunday. “Even if we occupy all of southern Lebanon, as some suggest, these measures will not be able to destroy…Hezbollah’s arsenal,” Israel’s public broadcaster KAN quoted the source as saying. The statement came amidst continued exchanges of fire between the Israeli army and Hezbollah. The Israeli security establishment believes that “Hezbollah can be further weakened through targeted assassinations, infrastructure strikes, and additional operational measures, but it acknowledges that there is no radical solution on the horizon that will eliminate the threat,” the source said. The Israeli army is employing measures at a cost of about

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  Saudi Arabia is pulling Europe toward a “Gulf Helsinki” deal with Iran — because Washington failed

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  When military power fails to impose “deterrence,” oil becomes politics. And the Strait of Hormuz is now writing Gulf security rules instead of the Pentagon. With Hormuz still closed and the emergency oil stock releases used to calm markets running down, prices are moving _ no matter how much some people deny it _ toward a new surge. The real problem is not the price as a number. It is the chain reaction: gasoline and diesel, shipping and insurance, raw materials, and then inflation that travels from Asia to the United States. And even if the strait opened tomorrow, the damage would not vanish. Supply chains do not reset overnight, and parts of the oil and petrochemicals flow would take

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  International Criminal Court issues secret arrest warrants for 5 Israeli officials: Report

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued secret arrest warrants against five Israeli officials, including three politicians and two military personnel, Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Sunday, Anadolu reports. The report came as The Hague-based court already issued arrest warrants in November 2024 against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defense Minister Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. There has been no immediate statement from the ICC regarding the report. If confirmed, this would bring to seven the number of Israeli officials facing arrests by the court. The Israeli army has killed more than 72,000 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 172,000 in a two-year war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023.

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  Qatari, Saudi Arabia discuss efforts to ease tension in Middle East

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and his Saudi Arabian counterpart Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan discussed the situation in the Middle East, including those related to the US-Iran war, Anadolu reports. In a Sunday statement on US social media company X, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said the discussions over the phone call also addressed efforts to ease tensions and promote stability and security across the region. Sheikh Mohammed stressed the “importance of all parties responding positively to the ongoing mediation efforts, which would pave the way for addressing the root causes of the crisis through peaceful means and dialogue, leading to a sustainable agreement that prevents renewed escalation,” the ministry said. READ: US officials pushing UAE

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  UN special rapporteur says Israel tortures Palestinian detainees in its detention centers

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine Francesca Albanese said on Saturday that Israel uses torture against Palestinian detainees in Israeli detention centers and against the wider Palestinian population in the occupied territories, Anadolu reports. Her remarks came after a New York Times investigation by Nicholas Kristof said that torture and sexual violence against Palestinian prisoners had become systematic in Israeli custody. Albanese shared her report Torture and Genocide, which was prepared for the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council. The report examined the human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territories since 1967 and focuses on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians since Oct. 7, 2023. According to the report, torture has long been a central part of Israel’s dispossession of

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  US officials pushing UAE to seize Iranian island: Report

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  US officials are encouraging the United Arab Emirates to “get more heavily involved in the Iran war and seize one of Tehran’s Gulf islands,” The Telegraph reported Saturday. A former senior US security official told the newspaper that some people within US President Donald Trump’s circle have proposed that the UAE seize Lavan Island, which was reportedly targeted in covert Emirati military strikes in early April. “Go take ’em!” the official was quoted as saying by the newspaper, adding: “It would be UAE boots on the ground instead of US.” READ: Israeli premier made secret trip to UAE to meet President bin Zayed Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. In response.

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  Israeli army captain killed in drone attack in southern Lebanon

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  An Israeli military officer was killed on Saturday when an explosive-laden drone detonated in southern Lebanon, Anadolu reports. The Israeli army said in a statement that “24-year-old Captain Maoz Israel Recanati, a platoon commander in the Golani Brigade’s 12th Battalion, was killed in clashes in southern Lebanon.” “Recanati was killed by a drone strike. He is the 20th Israeli soldier killed in Lebanon since the start of the war with Iran on February 28 and the 7th since the ceasefire began on April 16,” according to Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth. This is the second officer whose death Israel has announced in the past 24 hours in the fighting with Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah’s drone attacks on Israeli forces operating

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  Jerusalem Governorate warns of Israeli plan to seize properties near Al-Aqsa Mosque

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate warned on Saturday of an Israeli plan to seize approximately 20 properties near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, describing it as a “new colonial escalation,” Anadolu reports. In a statement, the governorate said that “Israeli authorities are preparing to approve on Sunday a plan aimed at seizing Palestinian properties in the Bab al-Silsila neighborhood adjacent to Al-Aqsa Mosque, displacing residents and evicting Palestinian commercial shops to make way for settlement expansion.” “The targeted area includes between 15 and 20 Palestinian properties, including buildings and Islamic endowments dating back to the Ayyubid, Mamluk, and Ottoman periods,” it added. It explained that “the Bab al-Silsila neighborhood is one of the most important entrances leading to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, and targeting

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  How Washington profits from Iran’s pain

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  There is a strange ritual in Washington whenever Iran is discussed. The language begins with democracy, women’s rights, non-proliferation and regional stability. It then somehow ends with sanctions, threats, aircraft carriers, television panels and, eventually, bombs. Since Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement, coercion has been sold as concern. In May 2026, even as a U.S. peace proposal circulated, Trump was still threatening renewed attacks and demanding that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The gap between vocabulary and policy is no longer hidden inside power. It is power. This is the ethical collapse at the heart of America’s Iran policy. The ordinary Iranian is invoked as the object of compassion, then made to live under policies designed to

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  Hormuz Strait should be reopened without tolls or restrictions, stresses Italian premier

  by MI on May 17, 2026

  The Hormuz Strait should be reopened without any tolls or restrictions, said Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday, Anadolu Agency reports. Speaking at the Europe-Gulf Forum at Greece’s southern resort of Costa Navarino, Meloni said Italy is convinced that a sustainable solution to the ongoing crisis in the strait should be based on some essential points. “The first is the reopening of the Hormuz Strait, without tolls or discriminatory restrictions, because the prosperity of not only the Mediterranean and the Gulf but of the entire world depends on freedom of navigation,” she said. Meloni added: “Italy is ready to do its part to contribute, as soon as the conditions are right, to the safety of navigation, building on what

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  US officials suspect Iranian hackers breached tank readers at US gas stations: Report

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  US officials believe Iranian hackers may be responsible for a series of breaches involving systems that track fuel levels in storage tanks at gas stations across several US states, CNN reported Saturday, Anadolu reports. The hackers reportedly took advantage of automatic tank gauge (ATG) systems that were connected to the internet without password protection. This access allowed them, in some instances, to alter the displayed tank readings, though not the actual fuel quantities, the report said. While the cyberattacks are not believed to have caused any physical damage or injuries, they have sparked safety concerns. According to US officials and private cybersecurity experts, unauthorized access to an ATG system could theoretically enable a hacker to conceal a gas leak. Sources

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  Nakba Day march in London

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  A large crowd of demonstrators marched through the British capital of London on Saturday, May 16, to express solidarity with Palestine, Anadolu reports. The participants carried Palestinian flags, banners, and placards while chanting slogans to demand an immediate end to the… pic.twitter.com/Gk0OzxpBKT — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) May 16, 2026 A large crowd of demonstrators marched through the British capital of London on Saturday, May 16, to express solidarity with Palestine, Anadolu reports. The participants carried Palestinian flags, banners, and placards while chanting slogans to demand an immediate end to the conflict. The rally joins a series of global demonstrations calling for international intervention and the protection of civilian lives in the region. Demonstration marks the 78th anniversary of the

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  Israeli authorities, occupiers use military infrastructure to expand illegal settlements in West Bank: Report

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  Israeli authorities and occupiers are using military infrastructure and seizure orders to expand illegal settlement activity and alter the topography of the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian official report said Saturday, Anadolu reports. The report, prepared by the National Bureau for Defending Land and Resisting Settlements of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), said Israeli occupiers, backed by the Israeli army and official Israeli institutions, “have over recent years changed the topographical map of the West Bank.” According to the report, this activity was done through “the use of military infrastructure and military seizure orders to open new roads and connect settlement outposts to larger settlements.” The report said the policy includes “modifying the boundaries of military firing zones for settlement

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  Nakba is not a memory; it is a system still in motion

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  Every year on 15 May, Palestinians mark the Nakba — the catastrophe of 1948. Yet to describe the Nakba as history is to misunderstand its enduring architecture. It was never a single event sealed in black-and-white photographs of frightened families clutching iron keys to homes they would never see again. It was, and remains, a political system: one of removal, replacement, legal erasure, and economic dispossession. The tragedy is not only that the world watched it begin, but that much of the world continues to watch it unfold in real time. In 1947, Palestinians privately owned roughly 94 per cent of the land in Mandate Palestine, while Jewish settlers held around 5–6 per cent, according to British surveys. Yet the

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  Energy diplomacy in the age of Artificial intelligence: Will algorithms replace OPEC?

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  The end of traditional energy politics For decades, energy diplomacy in the Middle East revolved around a familiar triangle: Oil, geopolitics and security. Oil-producing states shaped global markets through production capacity, strategic waterways and political alliances, while organisations such as OPEC stood at the centre of energy governance. Recent global developments suggest that the international energy order is entering a fundamentally different era — one in which data, algorithms and artificial intelligence are becoming as strategically important as oil wells themselves. The recent conflicts in the Middle East, disruptions in maritime routes, cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and the growing volatility of energy markets have demonstrated that oil politics is no longer managed solely through pipelines and tankers. Increasingly, it is

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  6 detained after Palestinian flag unfurled on Eiffel Tower during Nakba anniversary protest

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  Six people have been detained after activists unfurled a large Palestinian flag at the Eiffel Tower in Paris during a demonstration marking the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, which is described as the “Great Catastrophe” of 1948, Anadolu reports. According to Le Parisien newspaper, members of the environmental campaign group Extinction Rebellion displayed the flag on the monument’s first floor on Friday. A police official, quoted anonymously, said the individuals were arrested on suspicion of entering a protected area without authorization and endangering the safety of others. Prosecutors are expected to receive a formal complaint, though it was not immediately clear who would file it. The incident prompted political reaction in France and beyond. Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian member of

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  Israel claims it killed commander of Hamas’ military wing

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  The Israeli army claimed on Saturday that it killed Izz al-Din al-Haddad, a commander of the Palestinian group Hamas’ military wing, Anadolu reports. Al-Haddad was killed in an attack on Gaza City, the army said in a statement. The statement comes as the Israeli army continues its daily violations of the truce in the Gaza Strip that took effect in October 2025. The ceasefire came after Tel Aviv’s two-year genocidal war that killed over 72,000 people and wounded more than 172,000 others. There was no official statement from Hamas on the matter as yet. READ: UN marks Nakba anniversary amid warnings over Gaza crisis

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  UAE says it needs no protection from outside, vows to defend sovereignty

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates said Friday that it does not seek protection from any party and is capable of deterring aggression, while reaffirming its right to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, Anadolu reports. The remarks were made by Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar during a meeting of BRICS bloc foreign ministers in New Delhi, according to state news agency WAM. Al Marar rejected Iranian accusations and criticism directed at the UAE and dismissed attempts to justify attacks targeting the country and others in the region, saying such actions violate the UN Charter, international law, and principles of good neighbourliness. Both the UAE and Iran are BRICS members, and both attended the India summit. Al Marar also rejected

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  Hezbollah reports 33 attacks on Israeli forces in south Lebanon

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  Hezbollah said Friday that it had carried out 33 attacks targeting Israeli forces, military positions, and vehicles in southern Lebanon over the past 24 hours, Anadolu reports. The group said the attacks were carried out in response to continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement and attacks on civilians and areas in southern Lebanon. In separate statements, Hezbollah said the attacks targeted Israeli troop and vehicle gatherings in the towns of Rashaf, Qouzah, and Hadatha. It said military bulldozers and troop gatherings in Rashaf were targeted with attack drones, rocket barrages, and artillery shelling. Hezbollah also said Liman barracks and Kiryat Shmona barracks were targeted with drone attacks, while rocket barrages and artillery shelling targeted Israeli positions in Qouzah and

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  South Korea opposes Iran’s reported plan to charge Hormuz transit fees

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  South Korea’s oceans minister is opposed to Iran’s reported move to impose fees on ships passing through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, calling the action a violation of international law, media reports said Friday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference in the southeastern port city of Busan, Hwang Jong-woo said the waterway is an international shipping route where free navigation must be guaranteed, according to Yonhap News. “Charging shipping tolls in the strait is practically equivalent to blocking the waterway,” said Hwang, adding that, unlike the man-made Suez Canal, the Strait of Hormuz consists of international waters protected under international agreements. On Wednesday, Iran’s parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Commission head Ebrahim Azizi said a strategic proposal

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  Iran ‘remains committed to diplomacy,’ president tells pope

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  Iran “remains committed to diplomacy and peaceful solutions,” the country’s President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a message to Pope Leo XIV, Iranian state media reported on Saturday, Anadolu reports. Pezeshkian also expressed Tehran’s appreciation for the Catholic leader’s “moral and logical stance on the recent military aggressions against Iran,” according to the IRNA news agency. Iran targeted the goals of the US and Israel “within the framework of legitimate defense,” the president said, calling on the international community to “act responsibly against America’s illegal actions.” Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Feb. 28. In response, Tehran retaliated with strikes targeting Israel as well as US allies in the Gulf, along with the

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  Israel says it will sue New York Times over Nicholas Kristof article

  by Marwa A on May 16, 2026

  Israeli Foreign Ministry said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar instructed the launch of a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times following the publication of an article by columnist Nicholas Kristof, Anadolu reports. In a statement shared on US social media company X by the Israeli Foreign Ministry, Israeli officials described the article as “one of the most hideous and distorted lies ever published against the State of Israel in the modern press.” The ministry also accused the newspaper of backing the article and said legal action would be initiated against The New York Times. The announcement came after Kristof published an opinion piece titled The Silence That Meets the Rape of Palestinians, alleging that Palestinian

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  Ben Gurion and I: A personal feud

  by MI on May 16, 2026

  On this day, 15 May 2026, I became a refugee for 28,489 days.  I never forgot it for a moment. I shall never cease to try to return home by any means. I was born in al Ma’in, my family’s home for over 200 years. Al Ma’in is located in Beer Sheba district, about 30km southeast of Gaza city. In April 1948, the Haganah, the Jewish militia committed many massacres, notably Deir Yassin. At the age of ten, I was at the boarding school in Beer Sheba. As Jewish attacks continued, we were told to go home for safety. I walked home in a hazardous journey.  I looked back and saw the lovely Ottoman building of my school in Beer

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Mark Pfeifle: Trump Goes to China as Dealmaker or Supplicant?

  by MI on May 16, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Kelley Beaucar Vlahos: Trump-Xi Summit, Will it be at Iran’s Expense?

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  US says Israel-Lebanon ceasefire extended by 45 days after Washington talks

  by MI on May 15, 2026

  The United States announced Friday that the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon will be extended by 45 days following what Washington described as “highly productive” talks between the two sides, Anadolu reports. “The April 16 cessation of hostilities will be extended by 45 days to enable further progress,” State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said on the US social media platform X. The announcement came despite continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon since the US-mediated ceasefire took effect. Pigott said the State Department will reconvene the political negotiations track June 2-3. He also announced that a separate “security track” involving military delegations from both countries will be launched at the Pentagon on May 29. READ: Israeli minister announces illegal settlement plans in Lebanon,

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  UN marks Nakba anniversary amid warnings over Gaza crisis

  by MI on May 15, 2026

  The UN commemorated the anniversary of the Nakba on Friday, with senior officials warning that the suffering and displacement experienced by Palestinians since 1948 continue amid the Gaza conflict, Anadolu reports. The event, convened by the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, was held at UN headquarters to highlight the enduring impact of the Nakba — the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the creation of Israel in 1948. Addressing the gathering, President of the UN General Assembly Annalena Baerbock described the Nakba as a lasting historical “pain” that continues across generations. “They were removed from their homes, their houses destroyed, their lives and livelihoods upended. In a moment, entire people scattered,”

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  Israel claims it targeted Hamas military chief in Gaza City strike

  by MI on May 15, 2026

  Israel on Friday claimed it targeted the head of Hamas’ military wing, Izz al-Din al-Haddad, in an airstrike on Gaza City, according to Israeli media reports. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that the Israeli military carried out the strike targeting al-Haddad. There was no immediate confirmation from Hamas regarding the Israeli claim. READ: Netanyahu says Israel controls 60% of Gaza, exceeding ceasefire boundaries

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  Eurovision boycott: Sanchez says ‘silence is not an option’ in face of ‘illegal war, genocide’

  by MI on May 15, 2026

  The Spanish prime minister on Friday defended his country’s decision not to participate in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, saying Spain could not remain silent over Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon, Anadolu reports. Pedro Sanchez, in a video message shared on the US social media platform X, said Spain’s absence from the competition reflects its commitment to human rights and international law. “This year will be different,” Sanchez said, recalling Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE’s decision to not participate, describing it as “both consistent and necessary: to stand up against injustice.” “That is why Spain is not participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, because our commitment to human rights and international law is also expressed through culture,” he said. The

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  Javier Bardem says Nakba ‘never ended,’ calls Gaza ‘genocide’ in UN message

  by MI on May 15, 2026

  Spanish actor Javier Bardem said the Nakba “never ended,” describing Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocide” and its policies in the occupied West Bank as “ethnic cleansing and apartheid” in a message marking the anniversary of the 1948 mass displacement of Palestinians, Anadolu reports. The US social media company X account of the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine to the United Nations on Friday shared Bardem’s recorded remarks during a screening for UN representatives of the Palestinian-themed film All That’s Left Of You. In his message, Bardem stressed that the Palestinian people have long struggled against what he described as Israel’s policies of genocide and ethnic cleansing. “We understand that the Nakba never ended. It is playing out today in

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  UN relief chief says over 15 million Syrians need aid this year

  by MI on May 15, 2026

  More than 15 million people in Syria will require humanitarian assistance this year, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator said on Friday, Anadolu Agency reports. “Humanitarian needs remain significant,” Tom Fletcher said at a Security Council meeting. “About two thirds of the population, over 15 million people, most of them women, girls, and children, require help this year,” he said. Fletcher stressed that women and children remain particularly vulnerable after years of conflict, displacement, and economic collapse. “We prioritize women, girls, and children in all our humanitarian action because they are so often on the front line of these crises,” he added. READ: EU agrees to lift sanctions on Syria’s interior, defense ministers