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

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  Evangelical Zionist Huckabee attacks Jewish Ed Miliband, accuses UK government of ‘Jew hate’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, an evangelical Christian and one of Washington’s most outspoken supporters of Zionism and Israel’s settlement project, has accused the British government of “Jew hate” in an extraordinary attack prompted by comments from Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, who is himself Jewish. Huckabee launched the attack after Miliband published a video describing a meeting with people who had been in Gaza and were working on the ground there. The foreign secretary said what he had heard about the humanitarian and medical situation was “horrific”, including accounts of medicines being blocked from entering the enclave and children dying while waiting for life-saving treatment.   Miliband said the accounts reinforced the need for Britain to take stronger action. He

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  Adidas apologizes after campaign featuring former Israeli soldier sparks boycott calls

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  German sportswear company Adidas apologized Monday after an advertising campaign featuring a former Israeli soldier prompted a backlash and calls for a boycott, Anadolu reports. The campaign featured Shalev Biton, whose left leg was amputated after he was wounded while serving in the Israeli army in 2021, to promote Adidas’s Single Shoe service. “We recognize that an image used in a recent local activation by the local team has raised concerns and strong reactions,” Adidas said in a statement. “It was never our intent to cause offense and we apologize for anyone affected,” the company added, describing the promotion as a local initiative rather than part of a global campaign. Biton was one of 11 disabled athletes featured on posters displayed

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  Board of Peace says Israel must implement Gaza commitments to move roadmap forward

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Israel must implement its commitments under the Gaza peace roadmap for the process to move forward, Nickolay Mladenov, high representative for Gaza at the Board of Peace, said on Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the third Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, Mladenov said progress had been made compared to a year ago, but the situation remained far from what was needed to achieve a political solution. “We are still at the point at which we need to make sure that what has been agreed is going to be implemented and is going to change significantly the lives of the people in Gaza,” he said. “Unfortunately, we’re not there yet,” he added, saying discussions were continuing with Israel on “the implementation of

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  UN rapporteur warns Israeli rubble-clearing in Gaza could erase evidence of atrocity crimes

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Large-scale rubble removal in areas of Gaza under Israeli military control could erase evidence of atrocity crimes and hinder the recovery of human remains, UN Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territory Francesca Albanese warned Monday, Anadolu reports. “The ongoing removal, crushing and relocation of rubble in Gaza must not destroy evidence of international crimes or prevent the recovery and identification of human remains in the besieged enclave,” Albanese said in a statement. She stressed that Gaza’s rubble contains human remains and physical evidence relevant to investigations into alleged international crimes, including genocide. Palestinian authorities estimate more than 10,000 people remain buried under the debris. READ: Gaza holds funeral for 100 Palestinians recovered from rubble of destroyed homes Albanese said recovery and

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  UN rights chief urges halt to arms transfers to Israel, business support to illegal settlements

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  UN human rights chief Volker Turk on Monday urged states to end transfers of arms to Israel that risk being used to violate international law, and called on companies to stop business practices supporting illegal settlements, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the opening of the 63rd session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Turk said Israel’s annexation of the occupied West Bank was “unfolding, unobstructed,” despite a clear ruling by the International Court of Justice. “What more will it take for states to take action to prevent the entrenchment of occupation across land earmarked for Palestinians under the two-state solution?” he said. “They (states) need to end the transfer to Israel of arms that risk being used to violate international

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  Iran’s parliamentary speaker warns US energy assets in Gulf exposed to Iranian retaliation

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned Monday that US energy assets in the Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz are exposed to Iranian retaliation if Washington strikes Tehran’s oil and gas infrastructure, Anadolu reports. “It’s simple: the oil and gas production chain here is sprawling, accessible, and exposed. American oil and gas companies across these waters and facilities share that exposure,” Qalibaf said on the US social media company X. “Strike our assets and you get struck. We’ve already proven it. Ask the bases that are no longer viable,” he added. His remarks came amid US warnings that Iranian oil vessels could be targeted in response to attacks on American naval forces. On Sept. 5, US Central Command (CENTCOM)

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  Volkswagen, Israeli firm agree on sale of Osnabrueck plant

  by Marwa A on September 7, 2026

  Volkswagen agreed to sell its Osnabrueck plant to Israeli private equity firm Aurelius and the state of Lower Saxony, the German automaker said Monday, Anadolu reports. Under the deal, air defense systems from the Israeli Iron Dome manufacturer Rafael are to be produced at the factory. “Aurelius and the State of Lower Saxony intend to develop the site over the coming years into a competence center for security and defense solutions. “As an initial anchor project, Aurelius and the State of Lower Saxony are planning to cooperate with Rafael Advanced Defense Systems,” VW said in a statement. The plant is expected to manufacture systems and components for air defense systems for Germany and Europe, he said. The cooperation is also

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  No arms export licenses issued to Israel for weeks in 2025, Germany claims at ICJ

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Germany told the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday that it significantly restricted arms exports to Israel between August and November 2025, with no export licenses issued initially and later approvals limited to equipment that could not be used in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. Addressing the court during hearings on Germany’s preliminary objections to a case brought by Nicaragua, German representative said Berlin closely monitored the situation in Israel, Gaza and the wider region and adapted its export licensing policy accordingly. “The figures for licenses granted for the final export of arms to Israel fell significantly in the period from 8th of August to 23rd of November 2025, during which the federal government restricted its arms exports to Israel,

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  UK vows further measures amid ‘unacceptable’ expansion of illegal West Bank settlements

  by Marwa A on September 7, 2026

  The British prime minister on Monday condemned the unacceptable expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, reiterating that the UK would respond with “comprehensive measures” soon, Anadolu reports. In a phone conversation with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani, Andy Burnham said he was focused on ensuring de-escalation in the Middle East and supporting partners in the region to help restore stability and security. Burnham recalled that the UK government would announce measures in response to the increasing number of illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, his office said in a statement. “Turning to the situation in Israel and Gaza, the Prime Minister said the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank

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  Rapper Macklemore voices support for Palestine at Ed Sheeran concerts, faces removal petition

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  US rapper Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians during two opening performances for Ed Sheeran at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, leading an Israeli-American organization to petition for his removal from the remaining tour dates, Anadolu reports. Wearing a keffiyeh before a crowd of more than 80,000 people, Macklemore performed his pro-Palestinian song Hind’s Hall as footage from Gaza and the occupied West Bank was displayed on screens around the stadium. “I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them,” he told the audience during Friday’s concert. “I believe that every human being walking this earth deserves the exact same freedom, to

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  Iran warns South Korea of ‘serious consequences’ over military role in Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Iran warned on Monday that any South Korean military participation in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz would have “serious consequences,” amid reports that Seoul is considering a possible military contribution to efforts to secure navigation through the strait, Anadolu reports. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on US social media company X that relations between Iran and South Korea span more than 64 years and have consistently developed on the basis of mutual respect. “Iran attaches great importance to its friendly relations with South Korea,” Baqaei said. However, he said that at a time when the Iranian people are defending themselves against what he called US aggression and responding to US “war crimes against women and children,”

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  Gaza students shame the Irish authorities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  After a summer in which the dreams of dozens of the best and the brightest young people in Palestine seemed to be shattered by the Irish authorities, it was fitting that three survivors of the Gaza genocide managed to shame the Irish Government thanks to the brilliance of their artwork this past weekend. At the end of the academic year, Masters students who have completed the MA in Creative Practice at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) in Galway are invited to take part in a joint exhibition which showcases the power of their work and some of the projects they have worked on over the past year. At a time when up to 40 of the most gifted young people

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  Israeli army played football in Palestinian home as settlers carried out ethnic cleansing, court hears

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Israeli soldiers were filmed playing football inside a Palestinian home that had been seized during a campaign of settler violence that drove residents from their homes in Jalud, the country’s High Court has revealed. Israel’s High Court of Justice has now ordered the state to allow Palestinian residents of Jalud, a village in the northern occupied West Bank near Nablus, to return to homes from which they were driven out by Jewish settlers. According to the ruling, the campaign against Jalud’s residents began in April, when settlers pitched a tent on privately owned Palestinian land in Area B, which is under Israeli civil and Palestinian security control. Over the following months, residents were subjected to a campaign of terror intended

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  Qatari official says Iran war showed US strategic alliance is not enough

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Majed Al Ansari, spokesman for Qatar’s Foreign Ministry, said today that the war with Iran had shown Gulf Arab states should not rely solely on their strategic partnership with the United States to ensure their security. Speaking during a panel discussion at the Hili Forum in Abu Dhabi, he said: “We have to realise in the Gulf region that having international forces in the region, having a strategic alliance with the US is very important but is not enough. Self-sufficiency when it comes to security is the only way forward.” READ: Qatar rejects Iran claim strikes only targeted US military sites

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  An awakening question: From Rousseau to Al-Husri

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  On a summer day in 1749, Jean-Jacques Rousseau was walking through the streets of Paris when he stumbled upon a question posted by the Academy of Dijon: Has the progress of the sciences and arts contributed to the purification and elevation of morals? It was meant as an intellectual competition, a polite invitation to philosophers and writers. Yet for Rousseau, it was not an invitation at all—it was a jolt, a moment of existential interruption. The Iraqi historian and educational reformer Sati’ al-Husri, in his 1951 book “Opinions and Discussions on Science, Morality, and Culture,” describes that moment as a spark that pierced Rousseau’s life. The question, he writes, struck Rousseau not as a scholarly prompt but as a slap

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  Kushner downplays Gaza suffering, blaming Hamas disarmament, Israeli politics for stalled Gaza talks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and negotiator on Middle East affairs, has justified the faltering talks on the next steps in the fragile ceasefire agreement in Gaza, saying that the Strip had been a “miserable place for a long time”, in remarks that appeared to overlook the scale of the humanitarian suffering caused by Israel’s war on Gaza.  Speaking at a press conference in Ukraine on Sunday, Kushner said disarming Hamas would not be easy, describing the group’s “militarisation” in the Palestinian territories as “beyond our comprehension”. He added that the Trump administration is “extremely determined” to resolve outstanding issues and said it agreed with Israel on the territory’s desired end state, saying: “I think we agree with

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  EU urges Tunisia to allow political pluralism

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  The European Union has called on Tunisian authorities to create the necessary conditions for political pluralism and allow independent voices to contribute to the country’s development. In a statement, the EU said that “Questions remain as to whether the guarantees of a fair trial have been fully respected,” and called on the Tunisian authorities to ensure full respect for human rights. The EU also criticised the use of communications with diplomats accredited to Tunisia, including European diplomats, as a basis for bringing charges or as evidence against defendants, according to the statement. READ: Tunisia: Ennahda calls for release of female political detainees The EU reaffirmed its commitment to its partnership with Tunisia and said it would continue to support its people in

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  Israel issues 800 al-Aqsa expulsion orders since start of 2026

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  The Jerusalem Governorate said on Sunday that the number of Israeli expulsion orders from Al-Aqsa Mosque recorded since the start of 2026 had risen to 800, after around 15 orders were documented during the first six days of September. In a statement, the governorate said the number of orders recorded in the first six days of September was close to the combined total recorded in July and August, which stood at 23. It said Israeli authorities issued 17 expulsion orders in July and six in August. The governorate said the figures “reflect an acceleration in the use of the expulsion policy ahead of the Jewish holiday season”, which runs from mid-September to early October. READ: UN warns Israeli raid led by

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  Israeli army throws stun grenade at worshippers inside West Bank mosque

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  The Israeli army on Sunday threw a stun grenade at worshippers inside a mosque near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank, in the third attack on places of worship since the start of September. Voice of Palestine radio said Israeli forces threw a stun grenade towards worshippers inside the Grand Mosque during a raid on Beit Fajjar, south of Bethlehem. The radio station posted a photograph of the grenade lying on the mosque’s carpet after evening prayers, without giving the exact time of the incident. READ: Israeli forces raid West Bank, Jerusalem as settlers cut water supply to Tubas community On Tuesday evening, Palestinian worshippers suffered breathing difficulties after Israeli forces fired tear gas inside a mosque in Madama village in

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  Lebanese parliament speaker accuses Israel of turning south into a “ballot box of blood”

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri on Sunday condemned Israel’s continued escalation in southern Lebanon, saying attacks on civilians and the destruction of facilities, homes and villages amounted to acts of state terrorism. In comments carried by Sputnik, Berri said Israel had killed civilians, including children and women, in Mifdoun, Ramadiyeh and Mideon on Saturday and in Arab Salim early on Sunday. He also accused Israel of destroying Ghandoor Hospital in Nabatieh and targeting a Finance Ministry office in Nabatieh. He said the attacks, along with the continued destruction of homes and villages in Nabatieh, Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil and Tyre, were crimes that should be condemned because of their nature and scale. READ: UN says Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon continue to

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  Ben-Gvir proposes ministry to promote ‘voluntary emigration’ from Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has said his Otzma Yehudit party would seek to establish a government ministry dedicated to promoting what he calls the “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip if the party participates in Israel’s next government. Ben-Gvir said his party would demand control of the proposed ministry as well as the authority and funding needed to implement the policy. He argued that facilitating the departure of Palestinians who wish to leave Gaza would benefit both Israel and those seeking to relocate abroad. The proposal forms part of a plan unveiled by Ben-Gvir under the name “Disengagement 710.” According to figures presented by his party, the initiative aims to facilitate the departure of approximately 250,000

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  UN experts report more than 6,000 killed during RSF capture of El Fasher

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  More than 6,000 people were killed within days of the Rapid Support Forces’ capture of El Fasher in Sudan’s Darfur region in October 2025, according to findings cited in a report by the UN Security Council’s Panel of Experts on Sudan. The report said approximately 260,000 civilians were living in El Fasher before the RSF took control of the city on October 26, 2025. By 1st March 2026, an estimated 138,000 people had been displaced from the city, while thousands of civilians remained unaccounted for, according to the panel. The experts based their assessment on eyewitness interviews and other information gathered during their investigation. Their estimates were broadly consistent with findings by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for

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  Iran airs footage purporting to show missile strikes on US warships

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Iranian state television has broadcast footage it said showed ballistic missile attacks on a US aircraft carrier and destroyer, as Iran and the United States exchanged strikes on military and oil-related targets in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the two US warships were targeted with Iranian-made Qasem Basir ballistic missiles, alleging that the vessels had participated in a naval blockade of Iranian shipping. The IRGC claimed the missiles damaged both vessels and forced them to withdraw from the area. The footage broadcast by Iranian state media was presented as documenting the attacks, but the claims of direct hits and damage could not be independently verified. The Iranian military described the strikes as

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  11 killed, including 2 infants, in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  At least 11 fatalities, including two infants, along with five injuries, were reported in Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon overnight, according to the Lebanese state news agency NNA on Monday. Israeli warplanes struck a three-story residential building in the town of Kafr Rouman, near Nabatieh, after midnight, completely destroying it, the agency reported. Emergency teams recovered nine bodies, including those of two infants, from the rubble, while five people were injured. READ: UN says Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon continue to affect civilians In a separate attack, an Israeli drone struck a civilian vehicle in Kafr Rouman, killing two paramedics from the Islamic Risala Scout Association who were inside. Israeli warplanes also carried out a series of strikes on Nabatieh al-Fawqa

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  Belgian migration minister opposes bringing 13 Palestinian students from Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Belgium’s asylum and migration minister said Sunday she opposes allowing 13 Palestinian students from Gaza to enter Belgium despite having scholarships and visas to study in the country. Anneleen Van Bossuyt told Belgian public broadcaster VRT that authorities should consider the potential consequences of allowing the students to enter, warning of a “domino effect.” “It is presented as if it concerns only 13 people, but we must not forget the domino effect,” she said, noting that they could later seek family reunification or apply for asylum. Van Bossuyt questioned why similar arrangements would not then apply to people from other conflict-affected countries, including Yemen, Sudan and Afghanistan. READ: Belgium welcomes reported Gaza disarmament agreement, urges swift implementation “Why would that not

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  Algae bloom disrupts Israeli desalination plants, raising water supply concerns

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Several desalination plants along Israel’s Mediterranean coast have been shut down or are operating at reduced capacity because of unusually high seawater turbidity linked to a proliferation of microscopic algae, according to Israeli media reports. Ynet reported that the algae bloom has affected most of Israel’s coastal desalination facilities, disrupting water production at a time of high summer demand. According to preliminary assessments cited in the report, the algae may have originated near the Nile Delta before being carried by Mediterranean currents toward the Israeli coastline. The precise origin of the phenomenon has not been established. READ: Study: Nearly 1,400 doctors left Israel for extended periods between 2023 and 2025 Desalination facilities provide approximately 70 percent of Israel’s water consumption, making

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  Study: Nearly 1,400 doctors left Israel for extended periods between 2023 and 2025

  by Mehdi Editor on September 7, 2026

  Nearly 1,400 doctors left Israel for periods of at least one year between 2023 and 2025, almost double the number recorded during the corresponding three-year period a decade earlier, according to a new study by researchers at Tel Aviv University. The study, based on data from Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics and reported by Ynet on Sunday, found that 1,369 physicians left the country between 2023 and 2025, compared with 705 between 2013 and 2015 — an increase of approximately 94 percent. According to the figures, 419 doctors left Israel in 2023, rising to 530 in 2024, the highest annual figure during the period examined. An estimated 420 doctors left in 2025, although researchers noted that the figure remains preliminary.

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  Israeli army chief warns of ‘tense, volatile period’ across all fronts

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned Sunday that Israel is facing a “tense and volatile period across all sectors,” as the military continues its attacks on several regional fronts, Anadolu reports. “We are in a tense and volatile period across all sectors, and are preparing for the upcoming holiday period,” a military statement quoted Zamir as saying during an assessment with the military’s top brass in a snap drill. “The baseline posture of the entire Israeli army is readiness for a surprise attack,” he added. Since October 2023, Israel has continued its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, killing more than 73,000 people. Tel Aviv also fought two wars against Lebanon and Iran, and carried out attacks in Yemen

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  Israeli occupier spits at entrance of Christian monastery in occupied East Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  An Israeli occupier spat at the entrance of the Monastery of St. James in the Armenian Quarter of occupied East Jerusalem’s Old City, Palestinian authorities said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that the incident was part of a series of repeated attacks targeting churches, monasteries and Christian clergy in the Old City, including spitting, insults, physical assaults and vandalism. It also released a video showing the Israeli occupier spitting at the entrance of the monastery. The incident came a day after Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin met a delegation from Churches for Middle East Peace on Saturday to discuss Israeli attacks against Christians. During the meeting, Shahin briefed the delegation on the “deteriorating situation

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  Lebanese president condemns renewed Israeli strikes on Nabatieh, urges international action

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Sunday condemned renewed Israeli attacks on the southern city of Nabatieh and surrounding towns, saying the targeting of state institutions and health facilities marked a “dangerous escalation,” Anadolu reports. In a statement posted by the Lebanese presidency on US social media company X, Aoun said the attacks caused civilian casualties, severely damaged a Finance Ministry building and destroyed Ghandour Hospital. He said the attacks went beyond repeated violations of the cessation-of-hostilities arrangement and the framework agreement by attacking Lebanese state institutions, public service facilities, a hospital and health centers. Aoun said the attack on the Finance Ministry building, following an earlier strike on a State Security center that caused fatalities, demonstrated “a continuing pattern” of

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  Israel to hold large-scale military drill near Jordan border

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  The Israeli army said Sunday it will launch a large-scale military exercise in the Red Sea city of Eilat and the Arava Valley along the Jordanian border on Monday to simulate a surprise attack, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the army said the exercise will be led by its 80th Division, adding that increased movement of security forces, aircraft and naval vessels will be seen in the area starting Sunday. The forces will train for “a range of scenarios,” including a surprise attack and infiltration into Israeli territory by air, sea and land, it said. The army did not specify how long the exercise would last, saying only that drills would take place “over the coming days.” It said the

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  2 years after Israeli forces killed Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, family still waits for justice

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  Two years after Israeli forces killed Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the occupied West Bank, her family says there has been virtually no progress toward accountability for her death, Anadolu reports. “It’s exactly where it was on day one,” Hamid Ali, Eygi’s husband, told Anadolu from his home in Seattle. “We’re still asking for the same thing, which is an investigation as a first step into getting justice for her.” Eygi, 26, a dual Turkish-US citizen, was killed Sept. 6, 2024, while participating in a protest against Israeli settlement expansion in the West Bank town of Beita, near Nablus. The Israeli military said she was hit “indirectly and unintentionally” by Israeli military fire that “was not aimed at her” as its

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  Adidas faces boycott calls over Israeli veteran in single-shoe campaign

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  Adidas is facing calls for a boycott after featuring former Israeli soldier Shalev Biton in a campaign promoting its Single Shoe Service, an initiative that allows customers who need only one shoe to buy a single shoe instead of a pair, Anadolu reports. Human rights activists and social media users have called for a boycott of Adidas, questioning the use of an Israeli military veteran to promote a disability-accessibility initiative against the backdrop of war in Gaza, where the World Health Organization estimates that more than 5,000 traumatic limb amputations have occurred since October 2023. The inclusion of Biton, who lost his left leg after being wounded during fighting near Gaza in May 2021, has prompted questions about how Adidas

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  Gaza holds funeral for 100 Palestinians recovered from rubble of destroyed homes

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  Palestinians held a funeral procession on Sunday for 100 people recovered from under the rubble of destroyed homes in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood following Israel’s genocidal war on the enclave, Anadolu reports. Thousands of Palestinians, including relatives of the victims as well as community and political figures, attended the procession, with the bodies and remains laid out in an area near the ruins of the destroyed homes and draped in Palestinian flags. The funeral includes memorial addresses by Gaza’s Civil Defense, whose teams carried out the recovery operations, as well as representatives of the victims’ families and community figures. The bodies and remains are expected to be buried at Al-Ahli cemetery in the Zeitoun neighborhood after funeral prayers. Civil Defense

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  Israel’s Game

  by Marwa A on September 6, 2026

  A few days ago, a very interesting article appeared in the Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post. It was written by AJ Jaff, whose profile describes him as “a recognised expert in international security, crisis management, and geopolitical risk”. The “expert” began the article by acknowledging that the 6-month-long air war on Iran has failed to defeat Iran. Then, he provided some “out-of-the-box” ideas for the US to consider if it wants to “achieve its objectives” and win the war. According to him, the war will only be won when Iran’s institutional coherence is broken, resulting in its Balkanization. I will discuss Mr Jaff’s “out of the box” ideas in a bit, but first, I want to analyse the “expert” himself

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  Cyprus’s energy paradox: Gas beneath the sea, isolation on the grid

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Cyprus presents one of the Eastern Mediterranean’s most striking energy contradictions. It possesses commercially promising offshore gas fields, yet its electricity system remains isolated from the European grid, dependent on imported fuels and increasingly unable to absorb all the solar power generated on the island. For Nicosia, therefore, the central question is not simply how much gas can be extracted. It is whether Cyprus can convert offshore resources, electricity cables and strategic geography into durable diplomatic influence—without allowing energy to deepen the political divisions already shaping the Eastern Mediterranean. Gas without an export system The discovery of the Aphrodite field in 2011 appeared to promise Cyprus a new geopolitical role. Estimated to contain approximately 4.5 trillion cubic feet of gas,

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  US envoy to Israel visits occupied West Bank, calls occupiers attacking Palestinians ‘terrorists’

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee visited the occupied West Bank on Saturday, calling occupiers staging attacks against Palestinian “terrorists,” Anadolu reports. “I know that’s an uncomfortable word for some people, but when you try to create an atmosphere in which people feel uncomfortable living in their own homes, their children playing in their own lawns and yards, and people feeling that they’re not safe and that they’re not secure because of the behavior, the actions, and the intimidation of others, that’s terrorism by any definition,” Huckabee said during a visit to Turmus Ayya, north of Ramallah in the central West Bank. During his visit, the diplomat met with and heard testimonies from Palestinian-Americans about the challenges they face in

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  Saudi Embassy urges investigation after citizen stabbed in London’s Mayfair

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in the UK said Friday it was closely monitoring the condition of a Saudi citizen who was stabbed in London’s Mayfair district, Anadolu reports. In a post on US social media platform X, the embassy said it was coordinating with relevant British authorities and ensuring that the victim received necessary care and support. The embassy said it would continue monitoring the Saudi citizen’s health until he was safely discharged from the hospital. “The Embassy affirms that it is following up on the circumstances of the incident with the relevant security authorities, and emphasizes the importance of expediting the completion of the investigations, uncovering all details of the incident, and holding the perpetrator accountable in accordance with the

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  Tehran’s dangerous illusion of control

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  When Iran launched salvoes of drones and missiles at American bases, the message was clear. Strikes hit facilities in Kuwait, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates on September 3. Tehran wanted to signal that it retains complete dominance over the Persian Gulf. Yet behind these dramatic strikes lies a far more uncomfortable reality for Iranian leaders. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) faces a widening gap in its operational capabilities. Tehran seeks total leverage over the Strait of Hormuz during this ongoing conflict. However, its war machine is visibly stalling on the regional battlefield today. From the outset of this campaign, Iran’s political calculus depended heavily on economic coercion. Hardline strategists in Tehran openly targeted a global oil price spike

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  Dreams about Gaza: Israel’s ethnic cleansing proposals

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Let’s be done with the pretence of decency and soggy references to just resolution in the face of extreme circumstances.  Be done with the hilarious stage acts of referring to legal doctrines that either do not exist or cannot exist in the bloodied context they are being forced to refer to.  The State of Israel is intent, with every arm, administrative faculty and office bearer of consequence, to achieve ethnic effacing and utopic bliss with the removal of Palestinians from Gaza and the West Bank, with the former going first. Speaking on 2nd September at a conference organised by the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz returned to a theme so rapidly hardening it is likely

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  Entry, clashes, fire: Israeli occupier violence in West Bank village shows familiar pattern

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  A familiar pattern of occupier incursions under Israeli army protection, followed by fighting and soldiers opening fire on Palestinians is occurring with increasing frequency in the occupied West Bank village of Al-Mughayyir, the Haaretz newspaper reported on Friday, Anadolu reports. Three incidents occurred in the past week, with Israeli soldiers shooting at least seven Palestinians, killing two, while others were physically assaulted during incursions into the village. The attacks come amid escalating occupier violence across the West Bank, which US Ambassador Mike Huckabee described in August as “terrorism,” saying those responsible were damaging Israel’s image. The attacks follow a similar sequence: occupiers approach homes on the village’s western outskirts with their flocks in the presence of soldiers before reporting that

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  Palestinian football returns after nearly 3-year pause due to Israel’s genocide

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  Palestinian football returned on Friday with a club competition in the occupied West Bank, the Gaza Strip and refugee camps in Lebanon after a nearly three-year suspension due to Israel’s genocidal war, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Football Association organized the competition, “Thousand Martyrs Cup,” with opening matches held simultaneously in the three areas. Jabal Al-Mukaber faced Shabab Al-Khalil at Faisal Al-Husseini International Stadium in the town of Al-Ram, north of Jerusalem, while Khadamat Rafah played Shabab Rafah at Ittihad Deir Al-Balah Club’s stadium in the central Gaza Strip. In Lebanon, Al-Ansar faced Al-Nahda at Abu Jihad Al-Wazir Stadium in the Ain Al-Hilweh refugee camp in the south. As many as 244 clubs from the West Bank, Gaza and the diaspora

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  US ‘administered’ polygraphs to military officers for Iran war leaks

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  US investigators in August administered polygraph tests to 50 military officers and civilian officials following leaks concerning depleted American munitions stocks, according to multiple media reports on Friday, Anadolu reports. The probe targeted personnel with the Joint Staff, a group of senior military leaders advising the president, focusing on leaks regarding shortages of long-range missiles and Patriot interceptors due to the war with Iran, The New York Times reported. A CBS News report revealed that the FBI was not involved in conducting the tests, as the military utilized its internal investigators. Not all senior leaders were tested, with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine being excluded from the sweep. US President Donald Trump is said

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  US missile hits Iranian oil tanker near Kharg Island: Report

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  A US missile struck an Iranian oil tanker near Iran’s Kharg Island on Saturday, according to Iranian media, Anadolu reports. The tanker involved was a “small vessel,” Iran’s Student News Agency reported. It said no casualties were reported. Kharg Island is vital to Iran’s oil export system, handling roughly 90% to 95% of the country’s crude exports. US President Donald Trump previously threatened to take control of the island. Regional tensions have escalated since US-Israeli attacks on Iran began Feb. 28, with Tehran responding with missile and drone strikes against Israel and US interests across the region. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 concerning freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, but its implementation

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  Government forces recapture ‘strategic’ positions from Houthis in western Yemen, army says

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  The Yemeni army said Saturday that its forces had recaptured several “strategic” positions from the Houthi group in Taiz and Al-Hudaydah in western Yemen, Anadolu reports. Government forces “achieved battlefield victories on the Haifan front” along the administrative border between Taiz and Lahj provinces, the army’s September Net news outlet said. The website, citing a military source, said clashes on various fronts in Taiz and along the western coast killed and wounded dozens of Houthi members and destroyed dozens of vehicles belonging to the group. The source added that fighting was still ongoing across the Taiz and western coastal fronts. The army also said that its forces had thwarted a Houthi infiltration attempt in the Al-Qasr area east of Taiz

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  The Syria option: Rethinking Middle Eastern oil exports beyond Hormuz

  by Marwa A on September 5, 2026

  President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Syria as a possible alternative to the Strait of Hormuz has pushed an old energy-security problem back to the center of Middle Eastern strategy. On September 3, Trump reacted positively to a Washington Post report describing Syria’s effort to market itself as an overland corridor from Iraq to the Mediterranean. The interest is understandable. Before the 2026 conflict, crude oil and petroleum liquids moving through Hormuz averaged 21.6 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the fourth quarter of 2025. By the second quarter of 2026, flows had fallen to 4.9 mbpd as conflict sharply constrained shipping. The episode showed how quickly dependence on one narrow waterway can become a problem for producers, importers and the

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  2 killed in Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Two young men were killed Friday in an Israeli drone strike in the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh, Anadolu reports. The strike targeted the men riding a motorcycle near the Engineers’ Syndicate building in the city during the afternoon, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. The attacks come amid continued Israeli escalation against villages and towns across southern Lebanon despite an agreement between Beirut and Tel Aviv providing for a gradual Israeli withdrawal as part of a US-mediated negotiating process. Since March 2, 2026, Israeli attacks on Lebanon have killed more than 4,000 people and injured over 12,000 others, while forcing more than 1 million people from their homes, according to Lebanese authorities. Israel occupies areas in southern Lebanon, some held

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  UN urges restraint in Yemen, warns of civilian risks in Gaza, West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  The UN on Friday urged Yemen’s warring parties to exercise restraint amid a sharp escalation in fighting, while expressing deep concern over the safety of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, Anadolu reports. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN was “deeply concerned by the ongoing military clashes across multiple front lines in Yemen, including Ta’izz.” “We call on the Yemeni parties to exercise restraint, de-escalate tensions, and refrain from actions that could lead to further military escalation,” Dujarric told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. He warned that further escalation could have “devastating political, economic, and security ramifications for Yemen and all of its people.” “The parties must prioritize dialogue and engage constructively with the United

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  Trump says US might hit Pickaxe Mountain in Iran ‘very soon’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Friday that Washington could strike Iran’s Pickaxe Mountain site “very soon,” while describing the ongoing conflict with Tehran as “small potatoes” and saying the US is carrying out intermittent strikes, Anadolu reports. Asked whether the confrontation should be considered a war, Trump said he preferred to call it a “military conflict.” “A lot of people don’t call it a war. I call it a military conflict because it’s small potatoes for us. It’s not a big thing,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. Trump said the US has been conducting “intermittent strikes” and claimed there had been no active fighting for several days before a recent US attack that targeted Iranian radar systems. “We’re

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  Qatar rejects Iran claim strikes only targeted US military sites

  by Mehdi Editor on September 4, 2026

  Qatar said Friday that official records it submitted to the UN show Iranian missiles struck civilian, commercial and residential areas in the country, rejecting Tehran’s attempt to cite a Qatari document as evidence that its attacks were limited to US military facilities, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari made the remarks in a statement responding to a post on US social media company X by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei. Baghaei cited a safety and security risk assessment prepared by Qatar for the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, claiming the document confirmed that Iranian strikes exclusively targeted US military facilities in Qatar and did not target civilian areas. “If the Iranian side wishes to reference official documentation, we invite it