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

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  Speaking to Iran’s president, Pakistani premier urges US-Iranian commitment to peace pact

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged the US and Iran to uphold the commitments made under their framework peace deal signed last month, known as the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, Anadolu reports. In a telephone call with Iranian President Masoud Pizishkian, the Pakistani leader called on Iran and “all other parties” to exercise restraint and refrain from any action that could jeopardize the “hard-earned” peace gains achieved over the past few months, a statement from Sharif’s office said. Describing the framework pact – reached with Pakistani mediation – as an “enduring” framework for promoting mutual understanding, respect, and shared prosperity in the region and beyond, Sharif expressed “deep” concern over the recent escalation in tensions in the region

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  Spain’s National Court opens probe into Israeli military officials over Gaza flotilla interception

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Spain’s National Court has opened an investigation into senior Israeli military officials over the illegal detention of activists during the interception of the Global Sumud flotilla, limiting the probe to incidents involving Spanish-flagged vessels, newspaper El Pais reported on Friday. Judge Francisco de Jorge accepted complaints filed by the Communist Party of Spain, United Left Federal and several activists against Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Israeli Navy Commander Ram Rothberg. The complaints relate to the interception of the Global Sumud flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip when it was intercepted by Israeli forces on Oct. 1. According to the ruling, Israeli forces boarded several vessels in international waters about 70 nautical miles off

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  Israeli drone attack injures 3 hospital workers in northern Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Three Palestinian hospital workers were injured Friday when an Israeli quadcopter drone dropped a bomb in the courtyard of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, in the latest violation of the ceasefire in force since Oct. 10, 2025, Anadolu reports. Gaza’s Health Ministry called for urgent international protection for medical facilities and health workers, saying the attack was part of Israel’s continued violations of the ceasefire agreement. Three staff members at Kamal Adwan Hospital were injured, including two seriously, when an Israeli quadcopter dropped a bomb while they were working inside the hospital, a medical source told Anadolu Agency. Kamal Adwan Hospital is operating on a very limited basis after Israeli forces stormed and extensively destroyed the facility

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  German upper house advances bill to criminalize ‘denying Israel’s right to exist’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Germany’s upper house of parliament voted Friday to advance a proposal that would make it a criminal offense to publicly deny Israel’s right to exist or call for its destruction, Anadolu reports. The measure, introduced by the western state of Hesse, would impose penalties of up to five years in prison or a fine for statements made publicly that deny Israel’s existence or urge its destruction — but only if they encourage “a willingness to commit acts of antisemitic violence or arbitrary acts.” The legislation has drawn sharp criticism from civil rights groups and free-speech advocates, who argue it could chill legitimate criticism of Israeli government policies and erode the broad protections for freedom of expression guaranteed by Germany’s Constitution.

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  Red Ribbons Campaign presses Red Cross to resume visits to Palestinians in Israeli jails

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  The Red Ribbons Campaign, an advocacy initiative campaigning for the release and protection of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons, has urged the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to press Israel to resume regular visits to Palestinians held in Israeli custody. In an open letter published yesterday, the campaign called on the ICRC to use all appropriate humanitarian means within its mandate to secure the implementation of an Israeli Supreme Court ruling overturning the general ban on Red Cross visits. The letter is open for endorsement by Palestinian, Arab and international individuals and organisations supporting its humanitarian and legal aims.   The ICRC is a neutral humanitarian organisation whose work includes visiting people held during armed conflicts, checking their treatment

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  Israel detains Jerusalem grand mufti, bars him from Al-Aqsa Mosque for 1 week

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Friday barred Jerusalem Grand Mufti Sheikh Mohammed Hussein from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for one week after detaining him following Friday prayers, according to the Jerusalem Governorate. In a statement, the governorate said Israeli forces detained Hussein after he delivered the Friday sermon and led prayers at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem. It said authorities later released the grand mufti after issuing an order barring him from entering the mosque compound for one week. READ: Israeli forces raided Al-Aqsa Mosque 26 times in June, Palestinian ministry says There was no immediate comment from the Israeli police. Israeli authorities have issued similar bans against Al-Aqsa Mosque preachers in recent years. Earlier Friday, tens of thousands of

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  Israeli army begins major reduction of reserve soldiers amid budget strain

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  The Israeli army has begun a broad reduction in reserve call-ups, Israeli media reported Friday, days after reports that the military was facing financial strain. Yedioth Ahronoth said the move reflects what it described as fighting winding down on multiple fronts. “In accordance with the latest operational assessment, it has been decided to reduce the reserve force and the number of Order 8 call-up notices,” the newspaper cited the army as saying. Order 8 is an emergency mobilization mechanism that allows the Israeli army to rapidly call up reservists during war or other national emergencies. The system has been widely used since the start of Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 8, 2023. The army

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  Iraq sentences 12 tax employees in ‘heist of the century’ corruption case

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Iraq’s Supreme Judicial Council said Friday that courts sentenced 12 employees of the General Commission for Taxes to prison for helping businessman Noor Zuhair withdraw state funds in the country’s so-called “heist of the century” corruption case, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the council said the convictions were part of broader efforts by specialized anti-corruption courts to prosecute those involved in financial crimes while recovering stolen public funds. The council said Iraqi courts had also sentenced Zuhair in absentia to 10 years in prison after he stopped repaying the remaining funds he owed to the state and left the country. An extradition file has been prepared, and the Arab and International Police Directorate

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  German troops to leave Erbil base in northern Iraq amid regional tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Germany plans to close its military field camp near Erbil airport in northern Iraq by the end of September and withdraw most of its troops, the weekly magazine Der Spiegel reported Friday. The Defense Ministry has notified parliament of the decision to shut down the camp, according to the report. The base has faced repeated threats in recent months as tensions escalated following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. While German forces were not directly targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks, their proximity to US units forced soldiers to spend many nights in bunkers, Der Spiegel said. Defense Ministry spokeswoman Christiane Noack confirmed that the ministry had briefed parliament’s relevant committees but declined to provide further details on the timeline or

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  Iran security chief warns Israel ‘will not be safe from response’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Iran warned Friday that it would retaliate against any attack on its infrastructure and that Israel would face a response, according to the Mehr news agency. “As we have previously announced, any attack on infrastructure will be met with retaliation in kind,” Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said in a statement carried by the news agency. Israel, which he said was behind the recent hostile acts, “will not be safe from the response,” he added. Last month, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding under Pakistani mediation aimed at ending their military conflict and reaching a lasting peace agreement. However, the two sides have exchanged attacks over the past two days following Iranian

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  Trump claims Iran asked US to continue ‘talks,’ declares ceasefire ‘over’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Friday that Iran has asked Washington to continue “talks” and that Washington agreed to do so, while reiterating that a ceasefire secured last month between the two countries was “over,” Anadolu reports. “The Islamic Republic of Iran has asked us to continue ‘talks.’ We have agreed to do so, but the United States has stated to them, in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Separately, in an interview with the New York Post, Trump said he left instructions for the US to launch massive strikes on Iran if Tehran succeeds in assassinating him. “I’ve left instructions — if anything happens, to just literally bomb

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  ‘Death to Christians’: Report documents rising anti-Christian attacks by Israelis in occupied Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Christian clergy, nuns, pilgrims and holy sites are facing an increasingly hostile environment in Jerusalem, with a new report documenting a pattern of attacks that includes spitting, physical assault, threats, vandalism, anti-Christian abuse and the targeting of church processions. The findings come amid growing warnings from Palestinian Christian leaders that Israel’s far-right political climate, settler extremism and official indifference are deepening pressure on the historic Christian presence in Jerusalem and across Palestine. The latest report by Israel’s Religious Freedom Data Center (RFDC) recorded 83 acts of harassment against Christians between April and June 2026, across 76 separate incidents. The centre said the incidents were part of a wider pattern that has required the creation of a hotline, legal assistance, volunteer

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  Syria has no intention of intervening in Lebanon, says speaker Berri

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  Lebanon’s Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has dismissed suggestions that Syria will intervene in Lebanese affairs, following remarks by US President Donald Trump regarding Damascus’s potential role in tackling Hezbollah. In comments reported by the Lebanese newspaper Al-Akhbar, Berri stated that “Syria has no intention of intervening in Lebanon.” The statement follows disclosures by the US President that he had proposed Syria take on the responsibility of confronting Hezbollah. Trump claimed that Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa had “promised he would help with the Hezbollah issue.” Berri noted that his recent meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani had clearly addressed all relevant issues. Sources close to Berri—traditionally referred to as Ain el-Tineh circles—viewed Trump’s rhetoric as political pressure aimed at both

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  French report: UAE preparing first Israeli military foothold near Bab al-Mandab

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  The French newspaper Le Monde has published a report titled: “UAE discreetly builds military base in Somaliland for US and Israel”, revealing that Berbera Airport in the internationally unrecognised region of Somaliland is being transformed into a military base near one of the world’s most important shipping routes for the benefit of Abu Dhabi, Tel Aviv and Washington. Somaliland, whose capital is Hargeisa, lies on the Gulf of Aden, one of the world’s busiest maritime routes. It has a coastline of around 800 kilometres, while the Port of Berbera holds a strategic position near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, one of the world’s most important waterways for global trade and energy supplies between Asia and Europe. The region, which declared independence

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  Gaza family reunited with son believed dead after year in Israeli detention

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  A Palestinian family in the northern Gaza town of Jabalia has been reunited with their son after believing for a year that he had been killed by Israeli army fire, only to discover he had been held in an Israeli prison throughout that time. Inside the family’s home, which was damaged by Israeli bombardment, relatives broke down in tears of joy as 23-year-old Hamada Al-Banna returned unexpectedly after they had lost hope of ever seeing him again. His family had believed that Hamada and his brother, Adham, were shot dead by Israeli forces while on their way to collect food aid during the peak of the famine that hit the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2025. On Monday, Israeli

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  Widespread calls to mobilise at Al-Aqsa Mosque to counter Israeli plans

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Palestinian groups and organisations in Jerusalem have renewed calls for mass mobilisation and a strong public presence at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound amid growing concerns over increased settler activity and plans by extremist groups that they say aim to impose new Judaization realities at the site. Jerusalem-based organisations urged Palestinians to increase their presence and attend Friday prayers at the mosque, saying the move is intended to help protect the site, preserve its Islamic and Arab identity, and counter what they described as attempts to undermine its status. The appeals were directed mainly at Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and inside Israel, as well as those from the occupied West Bank who are able to reach the city, encouraging them

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  Massad Boulos: Like a man calling Libyans to prayer from Malta

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  When Massad Boulos, the US President’s Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, chooses to meet senior Libyan officials from both East and West Libya in Malta rather than in any Libyan city, he resembles a man calling the faithful to prayer from an island where no one hears the call. Libyans continue to pray to the rhythm of their own cities — Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi, Sabha — while Boulos raises his voice from Malta, a place that neither expects nor responds to such a summons. The metaphor is not ornamental; it captures the entire political moment. Libya’s crisis cannot be resolved from a Mediterranean balcony. It can only be resolved where Libyans actually live, negotiate, fight, and resist: on

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  Burnham admits Labour ‘got it wrong’ on Gaza as pressure grows for full break with Israel

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to become Britain’s next prime minister, has apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s genocide in Gaza, admitting that the party “got it wrong.” Burnham promised  a tougher approach towards Israel, including possible further sanctions and a ban on trade with illegal settlements. “Labour’s initial response to the treatment of Gaza caused huge hurt. We got it wrong and I am sorry for that,” Burnham said in a video message posted on X yesterday, in what is seen as an attempt to repair the damage caused by Labour leader Keir Starmer. Within days of Israel launching its genocide on Gaza Starmer said Israel has the right to cut power and water in Gaza. The comments sparked

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  Poll: 40 % of non-religious US Jews accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  A poll by the Associated Press and the NORC Centre for Public Affairs Research has found growing divisions within the US Jewish community over Israel and the war in Gaza. The survey showed that around a quarter of American Jews believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, while the gap between religious and non-religious Jews in their views on the war and Israel has widened significantly. The report’s authors, David Crary, Amelia Thomson-DeVeaux and Peter Smith, said the war in Gaza, which began after the 7 October 2023 attack, has become the main factor deepening divisions within American Jewish communities. They said the differences between religious and non-religious Jews are now greater than at any time in recent

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  Palestinian Forum in Britain welcomes Andy Burnham’s remarks on Gaza and Palestine

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) has today issued a statement welcoming “the important and responsible remarks made by Andy Burnham regarding Gaza and Palestine.” The statement said Burnham’s remarks reflect a growing recognition within British public life that the United Kingdom’s approach to the ongoing crisis has fallen short of its moral responsibilities and its obligations under international law. “As Mr Burnham prepares to assume the leadership of the Government in the coming days, these comments should mark not the end of a political reassessment, but the beginning of a meaningful shift in British policy towards Palestine, one grounded in international law, accountability, and the universal principles of human rights and justice.” Adnan Hmidan, Chairman of the Palestinian Forum

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  Israel seeks US green light to strike Iran

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Israel is seeking approval from US President Donald Trump to launch strikes on Iran amid the current escalation between Washington and Tehran. Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11 reported on Thursday evening that the current confrontation remains “limited to the United States and Iran only, without any Israeli involvement”. The report said Israel expects the exchange of fire between Iran and the United States to continue over the coming days. Meanwhile, the New York Post reported on Thursday evening, citing Israeli sources, that Israel is prepared to join any future US attacks on Iran “should Washington seek help.” One source told the newspaper: “We’ve proven that we stand with the United States. I’m not sure it will be the interest of

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Ray McGovern: Who controls the CIA?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 10, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Boyd: A Voice of Freedom on Behalf of an Oppressed Nation 

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  Erdoğan says NATO summit highlighted Türkiye’s central role in global security

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the NATO summit hosted in Ankara demonstrated Türkiye’s growing importance within the Alliance and the broader international security architecture. In a message published on X on Thursday, Erdoğan said Türkiye is “not just a host country, but a pivotal ally that directly contributes to the Alliance’s defence, diplomatic, and crisis resolution capabilities.” He said NATO’s “Vision 3.0” initiative is intended to strengthen Europe’s defence capabilities and better prepare the Alliance for emerging security challenges. Erdoğan added that Türkiye remains one of NATO’s strongest members due to its military capabilities, strategic geographic position, diplomatic experience, and expanding defence industry. Commenting on his meeting with US President Donald Trump, Erdoğan expressed optimism that the talks would

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  Volkswagen’s planned defence deal with Israel blocked by Qatari investors

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Volkswagen’s plans for a defence partnership with Israel’s Rafael have been vetoed by the German automaker’s Qatari investors, media reported Friday, Anadolu reports. Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, Volkswagen’s third-largest shareholder, rejected management’s proposal to manufacture missile components and military vehicles at the company’s Osnabruck plant, the Bild newspaper reported. The move comes after Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said in March that the company will stop manufacturing Volkswagen Group vehicles at Osnabruck starting in 2027 and confirmed talks with several defence firms about shifting the plant for military vehicles production. Blume provided no further details at the time. The proposal has sparked significant controversy within Germany. Volkswagen employees, peace activists and opposition politicians have criticised the plan, arguing the automaker should

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  Hamas spokesperson survives Israeli assassination attempt

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem survived an Israeli airstrike on Thursday after his vehicle was targeted near Abbas Junction, west of Gaza City, according to Palestinian sources. The strike reportedly killed Mohammad al-Fayoumi, who was accompanying Qassem at the time of the attack. The reported assassination attempt came amid continued Israeli military operations in Gaza despite the ceasefire, according to Palestinian officials. Palestinian sources said that at least six Palestinians were killed and several others wounded in a series of Israeli airstrikes carried out on Thursday. In a separate incident later in the day, one Palestinian was reported killed and several others injured when an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle west of Gaza City. Earlier, two Palestinians were reportedly killed

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  Israeli military delegation holds talks with Egyptian officials in Cairo

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  A delegation of senior Israeli military officers has held meetings with Egyptian military officials in Cairo as part of ongoing strategic consultations between the two countries, according to Israeli media reports. Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11 reported on Thursday that the delegation spent the past two days in the Egyptian capital, where it held discussions with senior Egyptian military officials. Citing unnamed sources, the report said the meetings were part of a broader strategic dialogue focusing on shared regional interests. According to the report, the talks took place amid efforts to advance the next phase of developments in the Gaza Strip within the framework of the US-backed post-war plan, while negotiations continue over Hamas’s future role and the issue of

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  Shipping through Strait of Hormuz declines as US-Iran hostilities resume

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has declined sharply following renewed military exchanges between the United States and Iran and recent attacks on commercial vessels in the strategic waterway. According to shipping data from Kpler, only six cargo ships had transited the strait by 14:30 GMT on Thursday, compared with 21 vessels on Wednesday, indicating a significant slowdown in maritime traffic. Following the ceasefire reached in mid-June, shipping volumes had recovered to their highest levels since the conflict began, although they remained well below normal, at roughly one-third of pre-conflict traffic. The latest decline follows attacks on several vessels earlier this week and growing security concerns in the Gulf. Shipping data indicate that many vessels transiting the strait since

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  Demolition of Yanoun School raises concerns over future of Palestinian village near Nablus

  by Marwa A on July 10, 2026

  The demolition of the Yanoun Mixed Elementary School by settlers on Wednesday has intensified concerns over the future of the Palestinian village of Yanoun, east of Nablus, with local officials describing the incident as part of a broader effort to prevent displaced residents from returning. According to Palestinian officials, Yanoun was largely depopulated about eight months ago after repeated settler attacks and escalating security pressures prompted dozens of families to leave the village. Rashid Marar, head of the Yanoun Village Council, said the destruction of the school was not an isolated act but part of what he described as a systematic campaign to remove all remaining signs of Palestinian life in the village. “The school was not just classrooms; it

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  Syria says arrested cell behind ‘terrorist bombings’ in Damascus

  by Marwa A on July 9, 2026

  Syrian Interior Minister Anas Khattab said Thursday that authorities have arrested a cell responsible for “terrorist bombings” that struck Damascus two days ago, Anadolu reports. “The cell responsible for the terrorist bombings that targeted Damascus two days ago is now in our custody,” Khattab said in a statement carried by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA). He added that authorities will disclose “the identities of the cell members, their roles, and all of their affiliations” once investigations are completed. Khattab did not provide further details about the suspects or the circumstances of their arrest. READ: Syria makes major achievement with US sanctions lift, support from Turkiye, Gulf nations: President

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  Israeli prime minister says Iran war ‘has not ended’

  by Marwa A on July 9, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Iran war “has not ended,” amid military escalation between Tehran and Washington in recent days, Anadolu reports. “The war has not ended. There are new challenges,” Netanyahu said at an air force graduation ceremony at Hatzerim Air Base in southern Israel, as cited by the daily Yedioth Ahronoth. “Maintaining air superiority is a fundamental pillar of Israel’s national security doctrine. It is key to preserving stability in the turbulent Middle East.” Iran and the US exchanged attacks over the past two days amid escalation following Iranian attacks on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Israel and the US launched joint attacks against Iran in February, killing more than 3,000 people,

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  Germany’s Merz tells Netanyahu US-Iran deal is ‘best chance’ for stability

  by Marwa A on July 9, 2026

  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call Thursday that the US-Iran framework agreement is the “best chance” for stability in the region, Anadolu reports. German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in a statement that the two leaders “exchanged views, especially on the situation in Lebanon as well as in the Palestinian territories.” Merz “emphasized that there must be no steps toward a de facto partial annexation of the West Bank,” the statement said. He also “underlined the importance of the framework agreement between the US and Iran as the best chance for stability in the region,” Kornelius added. The spokesman did not provide further details about the leaders’ conversation or Netanyahu’s response to

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  12 Palestinians killed, 20 injured in Israeli strikes in Gaza amid ceasefire violations

  by Marwa A on July 9, 2026

  At least 12 Palestinians were killed and 20 others injured in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours amid ongoing violation of a ceasefire in effect since last October, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Health Ministry said eight people were killed and 17 others injured in Israeli attacks across the enclave over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll from Israel’s genocide since Oct. 8, 2023, to more than 73,118. The ministry did not provide details about the circumstances of the deaths and injuries. The ministry said a number of victims remain trapped under the rubble and on roads, as ambulance and civil defense teams are unable to reach them. Two more Palestinians were

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  Security situation in southern Lebanon remains ‘fragile,’ UN peacekeeping mission says

  by Marwa A on July 9, 2026

  The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) stated on Thursday that the security situation in southern Lebanon remains “fragile” despite a decline in “violence” since late June. “The recent reduction in violence has enabled its peacekeepers to gradually increase operational activities in southern Lebanon,” UNIFIL said in a statement. “As families begin returning to their villages, peacekeepers are expanding their presence to help consolidate the relative stability achieved in recent weeks,” it added. The mission said its peacekeepers are helping repair damaged roads and other infrastructure, contributing to recovery efforts and improving access for its operational activities. “While the level of violence has decreased since late June, the situation remains fragile,” UNIFIL said, stressing that dialogue, coordination and a sustained

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  Report exposes pro-Israel network pushing Germany to defund UNRWA

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  A coordinated network of Israel-aligned organisations working to pressure Germany into cutting support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), has been uncovered by a new report.  Commissioned by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and written by German-Israeli researcher Alon Sahar, the report maps a transnational advocacy ecosystem that has worked for more than a decade to discredit UNRWA and weaken the Palestinian right of return. It argues that the campaign intensified after 7 October, 2023, when Israel accused UNRWA staff of links to Hamas, triggering a wave of donors suspending ties to the UN refugee group.   Germany is a critical target for the campaign. After the US halted contributions to UNRWA

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  Statement from the National Commission for Palestinian Popular Action on upcoming elections

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  The National Commission for Palestinian Popular Action has followed the recent publication in the Palestinian Official Gazette of the electoral system governing the Palestinian National Council, as well as the decree-law amending Decree-Law No. (1) of 2007 concerning Palestinian general elections and its amendments, along with reports regarding the imminent issuance of a presidential decree setting a date for holding Palestinian legislative elections in the coming period. While the Commission affirms that the renewal of national legitimacy through democratic mechanisms and free and fair elections is an indispensable principle in Palestinian political life, it believes that any electoral process cannot be separated from the national, political, and historical context that the Palestinian people are experiencing at this pivotal stage in

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  Funding failed paradigms for Palestinians in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Humanitarian aid is a failed paradigm, be it the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees or the Board of Peace’s scheming. UNRWA has always faced funding problems and it was never structured to deal with ongoing colonial expansion. The Board of Peace, on the other hand, has failed to generate funds for its alleged humanitarian concerns in Gaza and the reason is because it was never designed to truly meet humanitarian needs. The Board of Peace exists to facilitate Israel’s expulsion of the Palestinians from Gaza, so why should countries fund its humanitarian paradigm? US Ambassador to the UN Jeff Bartos begs to differ, it seems. Speaking at the UNRWA annual pledging conference, Bartos’s appeal to UNRWA’s donors

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  Hossam Abu Safiya; when a hostage sounds the alarm on behalf of thousands of detainees

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  At certain moments, a person transcends the self, and their voice becomes the voice of an entire community. This is precisely what is happening today with Dr Hossam Abu Safiya. The man who dedicated his life to saving the sick now stands, while in the grip of his captors, as a living witness to the ordeal endured by thousands of Palestinian hostages within Israeli detention centers. His recent cry for help, conveyed by his lawyer following a visit, is not merely a personal plea; it is an alarm bell ringing on behalf of all those hidden behind walls, and for all those whose humanity is being stripped away day by day, far from the world’s gaze. As the coordinator of

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  Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 08 July

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  MEMO spoke to Motasem A Dalloul, a survivor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, in the first of a new series of regular updates from the ground. Dalloul describes the daily struggle to survive: hunger, cold, the collapse of healthcare, and ongoing Israeli violations despite the so-called ceasefire. WATCH: Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 22 Jun

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says hit US command center, Jordanian air base with 10 ballistic missiles

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Thursday it launched a missile strike targeting the US command-and-control center in West Asia and the Al-Azraq Air Base in Jordan. In a statement carried by Fars News Agency, the IRGC said its Aerospace Force fired 10 ballistic missiles targeting the two sites, claiming the attack “destroyed” the two facilities. “If the aggression of the US terrorist army is repeated, other US bases in the region will not be spared from our heavy fire,” it warned. Jordan earlier said that its air defenses intercepted and downed eight missiles launched from Iran toward the kingdom. READ: CENTCOM says it completed another round of strikes on Iran

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  Abbas sets Nov. 28 for 1st Palestinian legislative elections in more than 20 years

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a presidential decree setting Nov. 28, 2026, as the date for legislative elections, the official WAFA news agency reported Thursday. The decree calls on Palestinians in Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to participate in free and direct legislative elections to choose members of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Issued under Decree-Law No. 1 of 2007 on general elections and its amendments, the decree marks the first legislative vote since January 2006. WAFA said the date for presidential elections, planned for the first quarter of 2027, will be announced in accordance with the law. Abbas, who has been in power for 21 years after taking office in January 2005, was elected to a four-year

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  The 4th of July: Tehran’s funeral and Trump’s birthday

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  The  meticulously disorganised  250th  anniversary of American  independence was  branded as the dawn of a new ‘golden  age ’, with the largest fireworks and miliary aerial pageantry display in history, along with a presidential address from Mount Rushmore. It was Trump’s ultimate vanity project,  a celebration of American exceptionalism designed to dazzle the world. Instead , the world watched Tehran. The broader ‘Freedom 250’celebration dissolved into a shambolic spectacle on the National Mall, where sweltering heat and power cuts left acres of exhibition fields humiliatingly thin.  Reports indicated Trump grew furious after seeing aerial photos of the sparsely populated fields during his separate D.C. campaign-style appearances. The calculatedly designed celebration is a reminder of how quickly spectacle can become farce.

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  India’s Israeli mirror

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Nations do not usually commit suicide in one spectacular act. They do it by acquiring a taste for poison and calling it policy. They rename moral vandalism realism, isolation autonomy, and borrowed brutality strength. Israel has performed this degeneration with almost obscene clarity. Modi’s India now appears less like a critic than an apprentice. The tragedy is not that India has interests. Serious states have interests. The tragedy is that India now mistakes interests for genuflection before a collapsing moral order. Once, India spoke in the idiom of Bandung, anti-colonialism, non-alignment, Palestinian freedom, and Global South dignity. It was never immaculate, but it had stature. It understood that power without ethics is only barbarism with a flag. Today, that inheritance

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  US strikes strategic railway bridge linking Iran to China, Russia

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  On the second straight day of its renewed strikes on the country, the US struck a strategic railway bridge in northern Iran linking it to China and Russia, Iran’s semi-official Fars News Agency reported Thursday. The cruise missile attack targeted the Ogtay Khan railway bridge in the northeastern Golestan province on Thursday morning, the agency added. The agency described the bridge as a strategic point on the railway corridor connecting China, Turkmenistan, and Iran. The reported strike came as Iran suspended passenger rail services between Tehran and the northeastern city of Mashhad after what locals described as a US-Israeli attack on a section of the line. Iranian state railway said repair crews were sent to the site and that stranded

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  Chief Rabbi leads calls to block Church of England discussion of Palestinian Christian genocide report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Leading Zionist groups and figures in the UK have come out in force to suppress discussion within the Church of England over a report by Palestinian Christian groups about genocide in Gaza. Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who has a son serving in the Israeli army, has warned the Church of England’s General Synod that it risks damaging Christian-Jewish relations if it proceeds with a motion encouraging engagement with A Moment of Truth: Faith in a Time of Genocide, a document published by Kairos Palestine, also known as Kairos II. The General Synod, the Church’s legislative body, is due to consider the motion at its annual gathering in York. The motion does not ask the Church to endorse the document,

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  CENTCOM says it completed another round of strikes on Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  The US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced late Wednesday that it “completed an additional round of strikes against Iran,” hitting approximately 90 military targets, Anadolu reports. “US forces struck approximately 90 Iranian military targets including air defense systems, coastal surveillance assets, missile and drone storage sites, naval capabilities, and military logistics infrastructure along Iran’s coastline. The latest strikes follow successful execution of offensive strikes in Iran the night before,” CENTCOM wrote on the US social media platform X. CENTCOM said the strikes were intended to “further degrade Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping and innocent civilian mariners in the Strait of Hormuz.” Earlier Wednesday, CENTCOM said that American forces had begun a new round of strikes against Iran. “At the direction

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  How Israel and American Zionists are canceling First Amendment

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  While the world’s attention has been consumed by the Iran war, the fragile Lebanon ceasefire, and Trump’s reality show — AKA the “Board of Peace” — in Gaza, Israel has been executing a methodical, largely unreported Jewish apartheid program in the West Bank. It is ethnic cleansing in slow motion: intentional, documented, and normalised by journalists too timid, media outlets too embedded, and editors too biased to cover it honestly. The numbers tell the story that Zionist-managed Western media outlets will not. The West Bank is experiencing its largest forced population transfer since 1967, according to a recent briefing to the UN Security Council. Israeli-enabled Jewish-mobs, sweeping movement restrictions, home demolitions, and race-based military repression have triggered the worst wave

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  Amnesty International calls for investigation into Israeli air strikes on Lebanon as ‘war crimes’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Amnesty International on Thursday called for an investigation into three Israeli air strikes in southern Lebanon carried out in March, saying they may amount to war crimes after killing 24 civilians. In a report published on Thursday, the rights group said the three Israeli strikes “killed 24 civilians, including 12 children, and wiped-out entire families”, adding that they “must be investigated as war crimes”. The strikes targeted homes in the cities of Tyre and Nabatieh, as well as the town of Erkay near Sidon, between 6th and 13th March.    Kristine Beckerle, the organisation’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, said: “Within the space of just a week – the Israeli military obliterated entire families, including a dozen children, in Lebanon, demonstrating a callous disregard for

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  Qatari and Iranian foreign ministers discuss regional tensions and Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi discussed the latest regional developments during a phone call on Wednesday, with both sides emphasizing the importance of preventing further escalation. According to a statement issued by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers reviewed developments across the region, with particular focus on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The ministry said the two officials stressed the importance of using diplomatic channels to address regional challenges and underscored the need to maintain communication and coordination to prevent further tensions. The conversation took place amid heightened instability following recent exchanges between the United States and Iran after attacks on commercial vessels in

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  Former Pakistani Air Force official says Israel does not want US-Iran agreement to succeed

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  A former deputy chief of the Pakistan Air Force, Muhammad Aryan, has said the success of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran will depend primarily on the willingness of both governments to fully implement its provisions. Speaking in an interview on Egypt’s Cairo News Channel, Aryan said Pakistan continues to support diplomatic engagement with both Washington and Tehran but stressed that responsibility for resolving the dispute ultimately rests with the two sides. He argued that military action cannot resolve the crisis, saying previous US strikes against Iran had failed to produce a lasting solution. Aryan also suggested that statements by US President Donald Trump should be viewed cautiously, arguing that the president’s positions can shift rapidly

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  Oil prices rise following new US strikes on Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 9, 2026

  Global oil prices rose sharply after the US Central Command announced additional military strikes against Iran, heightening concerns over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy transit routes. Brent crude settled at its highest level in two weeks, rising more than 5 percent to close at $78.02 per barrel after briefly trading above $80 during the session. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude also gained, climbing to around $73.50 per barrel. The increase was driven by growing market concerns over potential disruptions to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz following attacks on three commercial vessels in the strategic waterway. Iran has denied responsibility for the attacks. Tehran has also condemned the