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

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  Head of Russian nuclear firm Rosatom says Moscow, Cairo discuss expanding El Dabaa plant

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom is discussing the possible construction of two additional reactors at Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear power plant, its head Alexey Likhachev said on Monday, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a news conference in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod following a meeting with Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Mostafa Esmat, Likhachev said they would report to the leadership of both countries if an agreement on the project’s terms is reached. “Today we are beginning discussions on a possible second phase of expanding the plant by another two reactors, and we are discussing the financial and economic model for the fifth and sixth reactors,” Likhachev said. OPINION: Egypt’s energy paradox: Importing LNG, exporting influence The

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  Trump ignored top-level warnings before launching Iran war: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  US President Donald Trump launched the February offensive against Iran despite explicit warnings from his intelligence chief, vice president and senior military advisers that the conflict could trigger a global energy crisis and lead to a more hard-line Iranian leadership, The Wall Street Journal reported. According to people familiar with pre-war meetings, then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Trump that killing Iran’s supreme leader would likely “usher in a more hard-line” successor and force the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway through which one-fifth of global oil and gas trade passes. US Vice President JD Vance also advocated a more “cautious,” negotiation-first approach, arguing that a diplomatic deal would be less costly than a war with

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  UN decries ‘outrageous’ Israeli threat to expel Gazans over kite-flying

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  The UN Human Rights Office on Tuesday described as “outrageous” an Israeli threat to expel Palestinians from areas of the besieged Gaza Strip in which kites were being flown by children, Anadolu reports. “On the threat of expulsion due to children’s kite flying, I hope we can all agree that this is outrageous,” rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani said at a weekly press briefing. Shamdasani said the Israeli warning was only the latest in a series of threats. “We continue to see unacceptable rhetoric coming from the highest level of the Israeli authorities, showing utter contempt for international human rights and humanitarian law, and advocating and inciting violence amounting to atrocity crimes,” she said. READ: Gaza Media Office: Israel has killed

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  US to return diplomats to Middle East embassies: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  The US is preparing to return diplomats to several embassies in the Middle East that were partially evacuated during its war with Iran, The New York Times reported Tuesday, suggesting Washington does not expect an immediate return to full-scale hostilities. According to an internal State Department document obtained by the newspaper, the redeployment of Foreign Service officers and easing of emergency measures could begin this week. The move comes despite stalled US-Iran talks and renewed threats by Washington to impose economic sanctions. Embassies in Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Oman, Iraq and Kuwait are among those expected to restore higher staffing levels. The State Department said it “continuously reviews the security posture at our diplomatic missions around the world.

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  Qatar says new US sanctions on Iran ‘unilateral’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  Qatar said Tuesday that the new US sanctions on Iran are “unilateral,” stressing that Doha continues its mediation efforts to resolve the conflict between Tehran and Washington through negotiations, Anadolu reports. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Majed al-Ansari told a weekly news briefing that Qatar remains supportive of mediation efforts to resolve the conflict and bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table. He said Qatar’s contacts with the parties have continued in recent weeks, but there have been no new developments in the mediation process. Ansari stressed that all Gulf countries support reaching a peaceful solution to the US-Iran conflict, saying there is full coordination among Gulf states to deal with different scenarios arising from any escalation. He warned

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  Iranian, Omani foreign ministers discuss bilateral ties, regional developments in Tehran

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi in Tehran on Tuesday for talks on bilateral and regional issues. Albusaidi arrived in the Iranian capital as part of ongoing political consultations between the two countries, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency. Ahead of the visit, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the talks would address bilateral relations and regional issues. Baqaei said the visit was aimed at strengthening Iran-Oman cooperation and continuing sustained political consultations between the two countries as littoral states of the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the consultations were intended to contribute to peace and stability in the region. ​​​​​​​The visit comes amid ongoing consultations between Tehran and Muscat over

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  Children in Gaza protest at Gaza against the occupation for threatening to bomb them for their kites

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  WATCH: Gaza’s children suffer as they fetch water amid soaring summer temperatures

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  Trump says Iran ‘is not paying large segments of their military’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Iran “is not paying large segments of their military,” adding that it is also facing a huge humanitarian crisis. “The failing Islamic Republic of Iran is not paying large segments of their military, while at the same time killing protesters, even when they are not protesting, at levels not seen before. It is a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions, and must be stopped, NOW,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement in June calling for a cessation of hostilities and the restoration of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. However, the deal later fell through amid disputes over the terms of its implementation and the future

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  Arab countries welcome Syria’s removal from US terrorism list

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Qatar, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Tuesday welcomed a US decision to remove Syria from Washington’s list of state sponsors of terrorism, saying the move would support stability, reconstruction and recovery efforts in the country, Anadolu reports. In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the step represents “a positive development” that contributes to efforts aimed at achieving stability in Syria and the region. “The decision also supports the path of a political settlement in line with international legitimacy resolutions and the aspirations of the Syrian people,” it added. The ministry reiterated Qatar’s support for Syria’s unity, sovereignty, and independence, and its backing for the Syrian people in achieving security, stability and prosperity. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry

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  Palestinian journalists rally for protection of media workers in Gaza City

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  Palestinian journalists gathered at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis in southern Gaza on Tuesday, to protest attacks on media workers and commemorate five colleagues killed in Israeli strikes a year ago, Anadolu reports. The journalists carried photographs of the five colleagues and called for an end to attacks on media workers and greater protection for journalists operating in the Gaza Strip. The group said Israel has escalated its violations against Palestinian journalists since the Gaza war, arresting 245 journalists since October 2023. READ: Hamas says destruction of Gaza desalination plant undermines ceasefire Since Oct. 8, 2023, Israeli escalation by the army and settlers in the West Bank has killed 1,173 Palestinians, wounded 12,666, led to the arrest of about 23,000 and

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  UNRWA urges international community to protect training center after Israeli raid

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Tuesday called on the international community to act “immediately and decisively” to safeguard its Qalandia Training Center north of Jerusalem after Israeli security forces raided the facility, Anadolu reports. “Today at approximately 10:00, Israeli Security Forces forcibly entered” the center in occupied East Jerusalem, UNRWA said in a statement. At least four armored vehicles entered the premises, accompanied by more than 50 Israeli security personnel, it added. Approximately 20 UNRWA staff members were present at the site at the time of the incident, the agency noted. “The entry of armed security forces into a United Nations facility, without the authorization or consent of the United Nations, is unacceptable,” it added. Earlier Tuesday,

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  Genocide continues, on the pretext of kites

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Acting forcefully against kites is one of Israel’s latest purported security concerns. “My directive to the defence establishment and the IDF is to do everything against this lethal weapon – to strike it, to strike those operating it, to strike the place from which it was launched, to do everything in order to protect our citizens in the Gaza border communities and everywhere else,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed Netanyahu’s statement, saying he instructed the military “to act immediately and forcefully” against any launches from Gaza which, he said are “an act of war in every respect.” The kites which the Israeli military found in Gaza, however, had no explosive devices. Even Israeli media

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  Katz says Israeli forces will maintain permanent presence in northern West Bank refugee camps

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that the displacement of residents from refugee camps in the northern occupied West Bank and the establishment of a permanent Israeli military presence there had contributed to a sharp decline in Palestinian attacks. Katz made the remarks following a security assessment attended by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli military Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior security officials at the military’s Central Command headquarters. According to Katz, the meeting reviewed the security situation in the West Bank, ongoing Israeli military operations and what he described as the “dramatic growth of settlements.” The defence minister said figures presented during the assessment showed that Palestinian “attacks” had declined for a second consecutive year,

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  Football legends criticise FIFA leadership, demand greater voice for players and fans

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  A group of former international football stars has issued a joint statement criticizing FIFA’s current leadership and calling for structural changes to the way the sport is governed. Former players Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pires, Mikael Silvestre and Juan Sebastián Verón were among the signatories, who said players and supporters should have a greater and more direct role in decisions affecting the future of football. “We have witnessed the game we love stray from its fundamental values under the current FIFA leadership, and we will no longer remain silent,” the statement said. The former players stressed the importance of supporters to the sport, saying their own careers and achievements would not have been possible without the fans who sustain football. “As

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  Hamas says destruction of Gaza desalination plant undermines ceasefire

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Hamas on Monday condemned an Israeli airstrike that destroyed a desalination plant in Gaza City, describing the attack as a continuation of Israel’s campaign against the Palestinian population and accusing it of undermining the ceasefire agreement. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem issued the statement after Israeli warplanes struck the facility in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, northwest of Gaza City. “The targeting and destruction of a desalination plant in Gaza City by the occupation’s warplanes is a continuation of the genocide against the people of the Gaza Strip and a further erosion of all means of survival,” Qassem said. He also accused Israel of continuing to pursue the displacement of Palestinians, pointing to strikes in areas sheltering displaced families and damage to

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  Deprived at sea: The tribulations of the USS Abraham Lincoln

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  The conflict with Iran continues to deliver its mean shocks to an increasingly doddering US imperium.  Depleted munitions, depleted stocks of goodwill and, it would seem, a disruption in resupplying warships operating in the Middle East, have become dents in a struggling war machine. This month, the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, lengthily stationed in the Arabian Sea, caught the attention of naval observers with reports of mental distress and sheer desperation on the part of members of the 5,000-strong crew of sailors and Marines.  Personnel had endured a nine-month deployment – a record – having made only one stop in Guam in mid-December since leaving San Diego.  (The previous record had been set by the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr. Paolo von Schirach: Why is the US-Europe relationship deteriorating?

  by Mehdi Editor on August 25, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Dalton: The Escalation Trap: How Long Can It Go On?

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  Iranian security chief threatens to halt Gulf oil exports over US sanctions

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Iran’s newly appointed Supreme National Security Council secretary Mohsen Rezaei has threatened to prevent oil exports through the Gulf if regional countries participate in a new US economic sanctions campaign against Tehran. Speaking to Iranian state media, Rezaei said any country joining Washington’s economic measures would be regarded by Tehran as an “enemy” and warned that Iran could respond by disrupting regional energy exports. “If they start such an action, we will not allow a single drop of oil to pass through the Gulf,” Rezaei was quoted as saying. “Oil will not leave through the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf.” According to Iran’s Tasnim news agency, Rezaei also warned that alternative routes used to transport oil outside the

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  Jerusalem: Israeli police block Al-Quds University graduation ceremony, detain Palestinian students, academics

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Israeli police on Monday prevented a graduation ceremony for students at Al-Quds University in Jerusalem and detained several students and academics. The Palestinian Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that an Israeli force raided Khan Tankiz in the Qattanin Market near Al-Aqsa Mosque and prevented a graduation ceremony for a number of Al-Quds University students. It said Israeli forces detained Dr Youssef al-Natsheh, director of the Al-Quds Studies Centre at Al-Quds University, Raed Saadeh, head of the Jerusalem Tourism Cluster, Jerusalem-based artist Hossam Abu Aisha, and Jerusalem resident Hassan al-Louzi. The governorate said they were taken to the intelligence service’s Room 4 for questioning. Since the outbreak of Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, the occupied West Bank,

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  Israeli airstrike destroys water desalination plant in northern Gaza

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Israeli warplanes struck and destroyed a water desalination plant in the Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood of northern Gaza City on Monday, injuring several civilians, according to Palestinian local sources. The facility provided potable water to thousands of families and displaced Palestinians in Sheikh Radwan and surrounding areas. Local sources said its destruction would further exacerbate water shortages affecting residents of the Gaza Strip. The strike comes despite a ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since October 10, 2025, amid continuing Israeli military operations in the territory. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, Israeli forces have committed 4,379 violations of the ceasefire since it took effect. The office said those actions have killed 1,286 Palestinians, wounded 4,257 and resulted in the

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  Tel Aviv raises concerns over Turkey’s new hypersonic missile as strategic threat to Israel

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Turkish media have reported that Ankara has a new Tayfun Block-4 ballistic missile with an estimated range of about 1,500 kilometres, putting all of Israel within its direct range. The missile, developed by state-owned defence company Roketsan, is a heavier version weighing 7.2 tonnes and measuring about 10 metres, making it larger than previous versions. It can manoeuvre during the final stage of flight, making it difficult for air defence systems to intercept, and has an estimated accuracy of less than five metres. Estimates suggest that its speed exceeds Mach 5.5, marking a significant development that would give Turkey an entirely independent strategic strike capability without requiring US or European approval. Although the missile’s theoretical range covers Israel, Israeli military

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  Bloodshed grips Egypt

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Rania, 27, travelled with her husband and two children to Alexandria, northern Egypt, for a holiday on the Mediterranean coast. She never returned home alive. She was killed by a beach worker in the El-Agami area after a dispute over a seat overlooking the sea. The incident, which took place on an Egyptian beach recently, was not a scene from a dramatic film. It was a real-life episode in a wave of violent killings that has shocked Egyptians throughout August. The country has been rocked by a series of family killings and bloody massacres that have claimed dozens of lives in the space of a single month. The spate of violence has raised questions about the increase in killings and

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  Israeli media claim Kushner warned Hamas during meeting with its leader

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Israeli media claimed that US envoy Jared Kushner issued a direct warning to Hamas during a meeting with the group’s leader, Khalil al-Hayya, in Cairo. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that the warning was that any attempt to violate the understandings or conceal weapons would lead to the suspension of the political process and give Tel Aviv full freedom to take military action. It claimed that the meeting followed intelligence information received by the United States and mediators suggesting that some members of Hamas were planning not to honour their commitments to disarm and halt the rebuilding of its military capabilities. According to the Israeli channel, Kushner told Hamas that “The test of trust will be in the implementation, and if

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  Fewer than 20 cargo ships cross Strait of Hormuz despite Trump saying it is open

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Shipping data on Monday showed that fewer than 20 cargo ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz at the start of this week, amid restrictions on shipping through the vital energy route. Preliminary data from ship-tracking company Kpler, issued at 02:28 GMT, showed that four ships crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, following 13 on Saturday. The figures may be revised later, as some vessels switch off their transponders while passing through the strait, according to Reuters. The data compared with 16 vessels that crossed the strait on Friday. Two giant crude oil tankers entered the Gulf empty with their tracking systems switched off, one bound for Iraq and the other for Bahrain. US officials said on Saturday that

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  After 25 years, Egypt reintroduces Muhammad al-Durra to school history curriculum

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  Twenty-five years after the scene that shocked the world, an image of Palestinian child Muhammad al-Durra has moved from television screens to the pages of Egypt’s baccalaureate textbook, in a lesson covering the Second Palestinian Intifada in 2000. The image appears in the new curriculum in a lesson titled “The Second Palestinian Intifada 2000”, accompanied by a direct caption reading: “The moment Muhammad al-Durra was shot”. The image, which has remained in the memory of an entire generation, has thus become part of a history lesson for a new generation of Egyptian students in classrooms. The image is not presented in the textbook as a scene separate from the wider Palestinian issue, but as part of a historical sequence covering

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  Gaza Media Office: Israel has killed 21,500 children, targeted 1,244 mosques since October 2023

  by Marwa A on August 25, 2026

  The Israeli army has killed more than 21,500 children and targeted 1,244 out of 1,275 mosques in Gaza since the start of its military campaign in October 2023, the Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip said in a statement released on Monday. The office reported that the Israeli occupation army continues to commit “the most heinous crimes against humanity” and violates international humanitarian law and international conventions. The statement highlighted that Israeli forces are “systematically and intentionally targeting defenseless civilians and their inhabited homes, disregarding all international and UN calls” to halt the aggressions. “The occupation continues to shed the blood of innocents, specifically children, as the number of child martyrs since the start of the genocidal war has

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  US removes Syria from state sponsor of terrorism list

  by Marwa A on August 24, 2026

  The US State Department on Monday removed Syria from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s commitment to provide sanctions relief to the post-Assad government, Anadolu reports. Syria is no longer subject to prohibitions under the Terrorism List Governments Sanctions Regulations, according to the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control. Washington revoked the designation of the al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. The Treasury’s office also removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham from the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons list. Consequently, General License 25, which had authorized transactions otherwise prohibited because of the group’s involvement in the government, was revoked because it is “no longer necessary,” according

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps calls economic war ‘main battlefield’ with US

  by Marwa A on August 24, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that economic warfare represents the “main battlefield” in confronting the “enemy,” referring to the US, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the IRGC accused Washington of seeking through a multilayered sanction regime to “spread despair among the people, put pressure on living conditions, and weaken social trust.” It said all government bodies, including those responsible for the economy, trade, oil, industry, agriculture, banking, and diplomacy, play a decisive role in neutralizing the effects of sanctions. These institutions also contribute to managing markets, securing essential goods, controlling inflation, and creating employment, it added. The IRGC declared its readiness for strategic cooperation with President Masoud Pezeshkian’s government, saying coordination between the two represents the

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  An unprecedented alliance challenges Palestine’s old political order

  by Marwa A on August 24, 2026

  After two decades without legislative elections, the Palestinian people may finally be called upon to renew their institutions. A presidential decree has set 28 November 2026 as the date for electing the 132 members of the Palestinian Legislative Council, with voting due to take place in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The central question, however, is not simply whether the elections will take place, but whether Palestinians will be free to choose their representatives — including those who defend resistance — and whether the result will be respected. The last legislative election was held in January 2006. Hamas, standing as the Change and Reform list, won 74 seats and defeated Fatah. Rather than recognising the popular

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  Child among 3 Palestinians killed in Gaza amid persistent Israeli attacks on civilians

  by Marwa A on August 24, 2026

  Three Palestinians, including a child, were killed on Monday — and several others injured — in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire that ostensibly went into effect last October. A medical source at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis told Anadolu that the body of 10-year-old Amal Nashat Abu Khater, along with two injured Palestinians, had been brought to the hospital after Israeli forces targeted local homes and displacement tents with gunfire. Witnesses also told Anadolu that Israeli military vehicles had fired on the city’s Satr area, injuring three Palestinians. In central Gaza, two Palestinian brothers were killed when an Israeli drone struck a tent sheltering displaced people near the Shuhadaa Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. An Anadolu

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  Israel blocks 2 Swedish European parliamentarians from entering country

  by Marwa A on August 24, 2026

  Two Swedish members of the European Parliament say they were prevented from travelling to Israel on Sunday, despite holding entry permits and supporting documentation, Anadolu reports. Left-wing MEPs Jonas Sjostedt and Hanna Gedin were stopped as they were preparing to board a flight from Athens to Tel Aviv. They had planned to travel on to the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, where they were due to meet representatives of the NGO Save the Children, visit refugee camps, and speak to Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups. The two MEPs said they wanted to hear testimonies about what they described as deteriorating conditions and apartheid in the West Bank. Sjostedt, of Sweden’s Left Party, said they had been barred for

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  Yemen’s Houthis claim strikes on Saudi oil tanker, troop concentrations

  by Marwa A on August 24, 2026

  The Houthi group said Monday that it had carried out three operations targeting a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea and Saudi troop concentrations in eastern Yemen, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the group said it had struck a Saudi oil tanker — the Amzan — with a ballistic missile in the northern Red Sea off the coast of Yanbu in western Saudi Arabia. A “direct” hit had caused a fire aboard the vessel, the group said, adding that several other ships had left the vicinity in the wake of the attack. The group also said it had conducted two other operations against Saudi troop concentrations in eastern Yemen using ballistic missiles and drones. The first, it said, had

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  Trump says Iran is ‘completely collapsing’

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran is “completely collapsing” amid ongoing hostilities between Washington and Tehran, Anadolu reports. “IRAN IS COMPLETELY COLLAPSING!!! President DJT,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform without elaborating further, mirroring his earlier statements regarding Tehran’s economic and military condition. On Sunday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the US was entering an “economic D-Day” against Iran following what he described as the Trump administration’s dismantling of the Islamic Republic’s military and nuclear capabilities. “President (Donald) Trump has dismantled Iran’s military capabilities, destroyed nearly 100 percent of its military factories, and buried its nuclear program,” Bessent said in a post on the US social media platform X. Trump said Friday he still believes Iran

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  2 Palestinians killed in Gaza amid persistent Israeli attacks on civilians

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Two Palestinians were killed and a number of others injured Monday in Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip despite a ceasefire that ostensibly went into effect last October, Anadolu reports. An Anadolu Agency  correspondent, citing a local medical source, said Mohammed Abdul Nasser Abu Asad, 27, had been killed — and a number of others injured, at least one of them seriously — when an Israeli drone struck a tent sheltering displaced Palestinians near the Shuhadaa Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Separately, another Palestinian succumbed to injuries sustained in an Israeli drone strike on Sunday that also struck a tent for displaced people west of the city, according to a medical source

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  AIPAC brand turns toxic as pro-Israel Republican asks lobby to stay out of Michigan race

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  In a further sign that support for Israel is becoming politically toxic, Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers’s team has asked the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) not to run advertisements backing his campaign in Michigan, amid fears that association with the pro-Israel lobby could cost him votes. The request, reported by Axios is the latest indication that AIPAC’s brand has become increasingly toxic in US politics as public support for Israel declines and candidates seek to distance themselves from the lobby. Rogers, the Republican nominee for the US Senate, is running against Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, an outspoken critic of Israel and US military support for the occupation state. Rogers on the other hand has been a staunch supporter of

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  Has the gulf’s non-aligned moment arrived with the mecca pact?

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  The most consequential feature of the Mecca Joint Defence Agreement is not its alleged resemblance to NATO. It is not a Sunni pact either, and neither it being the first effort by Middle Eastern states to build a regional security framework. This new security triangle represents a broader and more consequential development. As dependence on Washington loosens, the Gulf states are not simply drifting; rather, it shifted towards collective, non-aligned security mechanisms, one that potentially could inspire other heavily aligned nations that are struggling to exit the US orbit. For nearly 80 years, Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia functioned as cornerstone allies of the United States. Turkey is a NATO member, Pakistan was a founding member of the Central Treaty

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  Israeli army orders evacuation of Gaza City residential area housing displaced Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  The Israeli army on Monday ordered the evacuation of a residential area north of the Al-Shati refugee camp in northwestern Gaza City, Anadolu Agency reports. The area is home to tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians and local residents, witnesses said. This development came after Israel threatened assassinations and the evacuation of residential neighborhoods over kites flown by children in the Gaza Strip, despite the Israeli army acknowledging that kites recovered near Gaza carried no suspicious material and posed no danger. READ: Turkey seeks Interpol red notice against Netanyahu over Gaza aid flotilla case

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  Israeli forces arrest 17 Palestinians as occupiers expand West Bank outpost

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Israeli forces arrested 17 Palestinians on Monday during raids across the occupied West Bank, including the son of Fathi Khazem, who was killed by the Israeli army in Jenin on Friday, while occupiers brought in new mobile homes to expand an outpost near Nablus. In Nablus province, Israeli forces arrested six Palestinians from the towns of Zita Jamma’in and Qusin, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Citing local and security sources, Wafa said Israeli forces stormed the towns of Zita Jamma’in, Qusin, Tell and Salem, raiding and searching homes. In Tell village, Israeli occupiers attacked several Palestinian homes in the western area, local sources told Anadolu Agency. The sources said occupiers also brought new mobile homes to an outpost near

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  Pakistani army chief discussing ‘new’ proposals in Tehran to revive stalled US-Iran talks: Sources

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is discussing “new” proposals with Iranian officials during his ongoing visit to Tehran to revive stalled direct talks following fresh contacts with the US, multiple Pakistani government sources told Anadolu Agency on Monday. Munir, who has been actively involved in the ongoing mediation process, arrived in Tehran earlier in the day along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and opened his trip with a meeting with Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni. The crucial trip comes after US President Donald Trump last week warned of economic consequences for Iranian trade partners as he seeks to isolate Tehran with new economic sanctions. Munir’s latest visit is part of mediators’ renewed push to bring the two warring

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  ‘I fabricate fake news’ says Israeli communications official

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  “I fabricate fake news,” admitted senior Israeli communications official Eli Hazan in a video in which he declared that truth and facts no longer matter. The extraordinary confession by Hazan was captured in a video that has gone viral on social media. ‘We must flood social media with fake news to defend Israel’ Israeli politician Eli Hazan says the ‘truth no longer matters’ pic.twitter.com/8OuylEPf5U — HatsOff (@HatsOffff) August 16, 2026 The clip has attracted more than one million views on X, alongside thousands of reposts and comments. In the footage, Hazan states: “The truth doesn’t matter anymore. The facts don’t matter anymore.” He goes on to acknowledge: “I fabricate fake news as a response to them,” before arguing that Israel

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  Why Turkiye should not go to war with Israel – it is already winning without one

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Restraint is hardest when it looks like weakness. Israel’s 18 August strike on Syria’s Abu al-Duhur airbase, followed by direct Israeli-Turkish warnings, has revived a dangerous question: are Turkiye and Israel approaching war in Syria? Ankara should avoid the arena where Israeli power is strongest. Turkiye is gaining ground without attacking Israel: consolidating a friendly Damascus government, extending influence through Lebanon and the Red Sea, deepening defence ties with Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, and improving Washington relations. War endangers those gains. “Winning” does not mean defeating or encircling Israel. Turkiye is accumulating positional advantage at acceptable cost, while Israel struggles to convert military superiority into a favourable regional order. Preserving that asymmetry is the strategic objective. Syria: where the two

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  Iran threatens to target bases in European countries, names Bulgaria

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei has threatened to target the sources of any attack on Iran, including military bases and facilities belonging to European countries if they are used in military operations against his country. At a press conference on Monday, Baghaei said providing bases or equipment to attackers amounted to “participation in the crime” against Iran. Baghaei said Iran had previously announced that it would target “the origin and source of any act of aggression” against it, specifically naming Bulgaria. He said Iran had detected several aircraft leaving Bulgarian territory to refuel. READ: Iran threatens neighboring countries against joining US ‘economic war’ The Iranian spokesman said Bulgaria allowing its territory to be used by these aircraft amounted to supporting

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  Solidarity campaign for family of England drowning victims surpasses target within hours

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  A solidarity campaign launched to support the family of the late Hossam Al-Khawas, one of the victims of a tragic drowning incident in England, surpassed its fundraising target within hours of going live, with donations continuing to come in at the time of publication. The Palestinian Forum in Britain (PFB) launched the community fundraising appeal on the morning of Sunday, 24th August 2026, to help the family meet the financial and practical burdens arising from the tragedy. The campaign drew a rapid response from members of the Palestinian and wider Arab communities, alongside British friends and supporters. According to figures from the fundraising page, more than 360 families took part in the appeal. Contributions varied according to each donor’s means,

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says Tehran prepared for US “economic war”

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Iran has prepared measures to counter the effects of intensified US economic pressure and is ready to respond to various forms of “hostile action,” Revolutionary Guard spokesman Hossein Mohebi said. Mohebi’s remarks came in response to US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a new economic campaign against Iran. “Economic warfare is one of the enemy’s tactics, and we have scenarios to counter the negative effects of this war,” Mohebi said, arguing that Washington has pursued economic pressure against Iran for decades. The Revolutionary Guard spokesman maintained that Iran continues to conduct economic relations with other countries and said Tehran was not concerned about the potential consequences of the latest US measures. READ: Iran warns ships in Strait of Hormuz of fines,

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  US envoy walks back Golan Heights remarks that contradicted Trump’s position

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  US special envoy to Syria and ambassador to Turkiye Tom Barrack on Sunday walked back remarks he made two days earlier, in which he said Israel “continues” to occupy the Golan Heights in violation of United Nations resolutions. The remarks contradicted US President Donald Trump’s position on the disputed territory. Israel seized the Syrian Golan Heights during the 1967 Middle East war and annexed it in 1981. The United Nations and most of the international community regard the area as occupied Syrian territory and do not recognise Israel’s annexation. READ: Syria warns continued Israeli attacks fuel regional tensions, demands UN action In 2019, Trump recognised Israeli sovereignty over the territory, reversing decades of US policy. On Friday, Ambassador Barrack said Israel

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  Sudanese opposition groups reject Burhan-backed dialogue, propose alternative peace process

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  A group of Sudanese opposition political and civil forces on Sunday rejected a domestic dialogue initiative backed by Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, proposing instead a peace process combining humanitarian, security and political tracks. The position was announced at the conclusion of a two-day consultative meeting in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, bringing together groups describing themselves as anti-war forces unaffiliated with either side of Sudan’s conflict. Participants included forces associated with the Sudanese Declaration of Principles, the Popular Congress Party, the Umma Party led by Mubarak al-Fadil, civil society organisations, women’s and youth networks, and independent public figures. At the meeting, participants adopted a joint position paper entitled “The Peace Process We Want,” which rejected the dialogue initiative

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  Turkey seeks Interpol red notice against Netanyahu over Gaza aid flotilla case

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Turkey’s recent request for an Interpol red notice against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, based on arrest warrants issued against him over the attack on activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla, has raised questions about the significance of the move and the next steps following the request. Turkey’s Justice Minister Akin Gurlek said judicial proceedings in the case were still ongoing before the 11th High Criminal Court in Istanbul. He said the case involves 35 defendants, including Netanyahu. “We absolutely do not accept the understanding that the Netanyahu government, which is carrying out a policy of genocide in Gaza, is immune and cannot be held accountable,” Gurlek said. READ: Israeli security officials warn Netanyahu risks ‘unnecessary’ escalation with Turkiye: Israeli media

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  Mossad chief met Syrian foreign minister after Israeli strike

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Mossad chief Roman Gofman reportedly met Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Sunday in an effort to reduce tensions between Israel and Syria following an Israeli airstrike on the Abu al-Duhur military airbase in northern Syria. Israeli media described the meeting as unusual given the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the two countries and the recent military escalation. According to the Israeli website Kipa, the talks took place six days after the Israeli Air Force struck the Abu al-Duhur airbase in the Idlib countryside. READ: Syria warns continued Israeli attacks fuel regional tensions, demands UN action The report did not disclose where the meeting was held or provide details of the discussions. It said, however, that the talks were intended

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  Report: Israel monitoring Dahlan’s efforts to build broad Palestinian electoral alliance

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Israeli political and security officials are reportedly monitoring efforts led by Palestinian politician Mohammed Dahlan to establish a broad political and electoral alliance involving several Palestinian factions, including Hamas, ahead of planned legislative elections. According to a report attributed to the Spanish newspaper El Medio Oriente, recent months have seen intensified contacts between Hamas and the Democratic Reformist Current in Fatah, led by Dahlan, as well as other Palestinian factions and political figures. Palestinian sources cited in the report said the discussions are aimed at establishing a broader political partnership based on national consensus, overcoming longstanding Palestinian divisions and preparing for a potential restructuring of the Palestinian political landscape. The sources said contacts have included discussions about an electoral alliance

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  Gaza survivors recount executions and abuse in militia-controlled areas east of Yellow Line

  by Mehdi Editor on August 24, 2026

  Palestinians who say they escaped areas controlled by Israeli- backed armed militias east of the so-called Yellow Line in the Gaza Strip have recounted severe abuses, including extrajudicial killings, physical mistreatment, drug distribution and exploitation of civilians, according to testimonies collected by Quds Press. The accounts describe tightly controlled areas where residents faced restrictions on movement and could leave only with authorization from militia members. Quds Press described the groups as receiving backing from the Israeli military. One survivor, identified only as Ahmed, 31, said he escaped with his two brothers after eight months in an area controlled by a militia allegedly headed by Shawqi Abu Nassira. Ahmed said that narcotics, including hashish and a substance he identified as “Rotana,”