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

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  Qatari emir wants ‘regional system of collective security’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani urged a “regional system of collective security” on Wednesday, arguing that its absence lies “at the heart of the dangerous situation” facing the region, Anadolu reports. In an address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Al-Thani said the crisis in the Gulf region can be resolved diplomatically by reopening the Strait of Hormuz and returning to talks to avert war and ensure regional security “for the entire region, including Iran.” Al Thani said Qatar has always sought to resolve disputes through dialogue and negotiations. “This remains our position in the aftermath of the wars we’ve been witnessing,” he said. Unresolved conflicts only grow more costly without just settlements, he stressed.

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  Iran cancels flights from Tehran to Baghdad, Muscat starting early Wednesday

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization announced Tuesday the cancellation of flights from Tehran to Baghdad and Muscat, Oman, starting early Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “As of 00:00 tonight local time, Baghdad and Muscat airports will not accept Iranian flights, and for this reason, we are coordinating and consulting so that flights destined for Baghdad will be directed to Najaf airport,” the organization’s spokesperson Majid Akhavan said in a statement carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Other international flights, including those to Istanbul, will operate as scheduled, with no disruptions reported, according to Akhavan. No further details were disclosed. READ: All Iranian airlines to shut down worldwide by Sept. 23, US Treasury chief says

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  British premier defends sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  British Premier Andy Burnham has called for action over illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, warning that failure to act could further undermine trust in politics and make a two-state solution non-viable, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters alongside US President Donald Trump in New York, Burnham said there could be a point at which the expansion of settlements posed a direct challenge to the prospects for a two-state solution. “If we face a situation where there’s a tender to put settlements on the West Bank that, in effect, make a two-state solution non-viable, what do we do?” he said. Burnham argued that politicians needed to demonstrate that their statements were backed by action, warning that otherwise public confidence in politics

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  Trump says he expects Iran deal after US midterm elections

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects to reach a deal with Iran after the US midterm elections, warning that he faces a “big decision” on whether to pursue an agreement or destroy that country, Anadolu reports. “I have a big decision to make: Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world, or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” Trump said in an address to the UN General Assembly in New York. Trump said he believes

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  MEMO in Conversation with Benjamin Moser

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  In this episode of MEMO Conversations, we speak with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Benjamin Moser about his book Anti-Zionism: A Jewish History. We explore one of the book’s central arguments: Jewish opposition to Zionism has a long history, yet many of the people who voiced it have been written out of the story. We also discuss the history of Arab Jews and what it reveals about the idea that Jews and Arab have always been in conflict. Our conversation asks what this history can teach us at a time when opposition to Zionism is often conflated with anti-Semitism. MORE >>> MEMO in Conversation With

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  Int’l community chose to manage Palestinian-Israeli conflict rather than resolve it, Jordanian king says

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  The international community avoided resolving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and instead chose to manage it, Jordan’s King Abdullah II said on Tuesday during a speech at the UN General Assembly, Anadolu reports. “For decades I stood before this assembly and warned of the dangers of leaving the Palestinian-Israeli conflict unresolved. But the international community chose to manage the conflict, not confront it,” Abdullah said in a speech at the 81st session of the assembly in New York. He said every new Israeli violation was initially treated as temporary, “until temporary became permanent, and permanent became policy.” READ: 8 nations, including Turkiye, urge Israel to fulfill commitments under 1st phase of Gaza peace plan The forced displacement of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank

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  Italy, Iran discuss negotiations to reopen Strait of Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday that he discussed negotiations to reopen the Strait of Hormuz with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, Anadolu reports. “We discussed negotiations for the reopening of Hormuz,” Tajani said in a post on US social media platform X. He said a memorandum reached in June had demonstrated that an agreement was possible, adding that Italy would continue supporting efforts to restore freedom of navigation through the strategic waterway and end the conflict. The meeting comes as diplomatic efforts intensify over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route for global energy and commercial shipping. READ: China says opposes ‘illegal unilateral sanctions’

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  France authorizes Netanyahu’s plane to cross airspace en route to UN General Assembly

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Paris authorized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane to fly through French airspace Tuesday as he traveled to New York for the UN General Assembly, according to a diplomatic source, Anadolu reports. “This is the fifth time. It is time to put an end to this France that humiliates itself and tramples on international law,” European Parliament member Emma Fourreau said on US social media company X, as she criticized the authorization. “France under Macron once again authorizes Netanyahu, a criminal, to fly over French airspace to attend the UN General Assembly, even though he is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza,” Fourreau added. The International Criminal

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  Amnesty urges UEFA to suspend Israel, calls Nations League participation ‘unconscionable’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Human rights organization Amnesty International on Tuesday called on UEFA and FIFA to suspend Israel’s football association, saying its Nations League participation is “unconscionable” because of the association’s support for settlement-based clubs, Anadolu reports. “It’s unconscionable that the Israel men’s football team will participate in the UEFA Nations League this autumn despite clear evidence that Israel’s football association continues to support illegal settlements,” Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s regional director for Europe, said in a statement. “UEFA and FIFA should have suspended the Israel Football Association (IFA) over its refusal to exclude clubs based in illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories,” Cockburn said. He said the continued participation of settlement-based clubs in Israeli leagues “violates FIFA statutes and international law.” He

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  Turkish president calls on UN member state to pressure Israel for Gaza reconstruction

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday called for Gaza’s reconstruction to begin without delay and urged the international community to increase pressure on Israel, Anadolu reports. Addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Erdogan said efforts to rebuild Gaza should start as soon as possible. “We need to begin the reconstruction of Gaza without wasting any time. In this regard, I call on you to exert greater pressure on Israel,” he said. Erdogan said attempts to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state would ultimately fail. “Everyone should now understand and accept this: Attempts to strangle the state of Palestine will end in failure,” he said. He expressed hope that an independent Palestinian state

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  UN chief says Israeli actions in occupied West Bank raising ‘specter of ethnic cleansing’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Tuesday that Israeli violence, displacement and illegal settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank are undermining prospects for peace and raising the risk of “ethnic cleansing,” Anadolu reports. “Violence, displacement, and settlement expansion by Israel in the occupied West Bank are bulldozing the path to peace and raising the specter of ethnic cleansing,” Guterres said in an address to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York. “We cannot allow the two-state solution to disappear before our eyes,” he added. Guterres said the devastating situation in the occupied Palestinian territories must not be overlooked amid the broader turmoil engulfing the Middle East. He described the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas as “abhorrent” but said

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  8 nations, including Turkiye, urge Israel to fulfill commitments under 1st phase of Gaza peace plan

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Eight nations, including Turkiye, on Tuesday called on Israel to immediately fulfill its outstanding commitments under the first phase of the Gaza peace plan, Anadolu reports. The United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Qatar, Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan were also among those nations. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the Muslim-majority nations expressed “deep concern over the continued humanitarian suffering in Gaza.” READ: Israel blocks Gaza patients from leaving for treatment for 2nd day over Jewish holidays They called upon Israel “to immediately fulfill its outstanding commitments under the First Phase of the Comprehensive Plan, including by ensuring the immediate, safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance and Early Recovery supplies, and facilitating the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure.” They also

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  Israeli prime minister lashes out at New York mayor, accuses him of ‘inciting against Jews’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday lashed out at New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani after the mayor described him as a “war criminal,” Anadolu reports. “Shame on you, Mr. Mandani. Shame on you for supporting Hamas,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on the US social media company X. Netanyahu also accused Mamdani of “inciting riots against New York Jews.” Mamdani became New York City’s first Muslim mayor after winning the 2025 election. He has denied accusations of antisemitism, and a significant number of Jewish New Yorkers were among his supporters. Unlike Mamdani, previous New York mayors — governing a city with the largest Jewish community in the US — have traditionally been strong supporters of Israel and have frequently

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  Pakistan launches annual military drills with Russia, Oman

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Pakistan kicked off separate annual military drills with Russia and Oman on Tuesday, an official statement said, Anadolu reports. The ninth edition of the Pakistan-Russia joint exercise, named “Druzhba-IX,” began at Cherat, an elite training center of the Pakistan Army in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, a statement from the Pakistan Army said. The second edition of the Pakistan-Oman joint exercise, “Washaq Al Jabal-II” (Mountain Lynx-II), began at the National Counter Terrorism Center in Pabbi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The two-week exercise brings together contingents from the Pakistani, Russian, and Omani armies to share operational experience, refine counterterrorism drills and procedures, and enhance interoperability. “Through joint training and the exchange of best practices, the participating forces will hone their combat skills and tactical

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  Spain’s public broadcaster plans to continue Eurovision boycott over Israel’s participation

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE is planning to continue its boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest in 2027 over Israel’s continued participation, Anadolu reports. RTVE President Jose Pablo Lopez said Tuesday he would propose that the country remain out of the contest. He made the remarks at the broadcaster’s parliamentary oversight committee. Lopez said RTVE had spent the past year pushing, alongside other major European public broadcasters, for changes within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), including tougher governance rules, penalties for political instrumentalization and stricter rules on neutrality in sponsorship and the contest itself. While acknowledging progress, he said RTVE had not achieved all of its objectives and that it was “deeply painful” that Israel’s public broadcaster would continue participating. Lopez said

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  Netanyahu won’t meet Trump during ‘brief’ UN visit: Israeli media

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will make a “brief” visit to New York to address the UN General Assembly in a speech aimed at courting Israeli voters before returning without meeting US President Donald Trump, the daily Haaretz said on Tuesday. Netanyahu’s speech will primarily target voters in Israel, about a month before Knesset elections, as he is expected to face a “hostile reception” in New York, the newspaper said. Netanyahu is scheduled to leave for the US on Wednesday and return to Israel hours after delivering his speech. “Netanyahu was unable to arrange a meeting with US President Donald Trump or senior members of his administration, and it remains unclear whether he will meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio,”

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  China says opposes ‘illegal unilateral sanctions’ as US pressures Iran with secondary sanctions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  China on Tuesday said it is against “illegal unilateral sanctions” as Washington moves to impose sweeping secondary sanctions targeting Iran’s commercial aviation network, Anadolu reports. “China consistently opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law and are not authorized by the UN Security Council,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said, responding to the latest US measures against Tehran. Beijing has repeatedly opposed US sanctions on Iran and what it calls Washington’s “long-arm jurisdiction.” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that operations of Iranian commercial airlines worldwide would effectively be halted beginning Wednesday under the sanctions campaign. READ: Iran plans to sell US, Israeli vessels seized in Hormuz “On September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines will be shut

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  Israeli orders removal of vegetation, trees from nearly 340 dunams of Palestinian land in occupied West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Israel has issued three military orders to remove wild vegetation and uproot trees from 339 dunams (83.8 acres) of Palestinian land in the northern and central West Bank, a Palestinian commission said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. One order targets 178.71 dunams (44.2 acres) of land in Jenin and Qabatiya in the northern West Bank and calls for the removal of wild vegetation and olive trees, the Palestinian Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission said in a statement. “The order gives landowners seven days to file objections, but the period begins after the measure is implemented rather than beforehand,” it added. Another order targets an additional 128.77 dunams (31.8 acres) in Jenin and Qabatiya and gives landowners 12 hours to remove wild vegetation

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  Iran plans to sell US, Israeli vessels seized in Hormuz

  by Mehdi Editor on September 22, 2026

  Iran said Tuesday that US- and Israeli-linked commercial vessels seized during the war in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf will be sold with the proceeds distributed to families affected by the conflict. Hassan Abdollianpour, head of the judiciary’s Center for Lawyers, said a number of US and Israeli vessels had been seized in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf “under judicial rulings,” according to the Mizan News Agency. READ: Iran threatens US with new weapons, new targets If US attacks “The proceeds from the sale of these vessels will be used for individuals and families affected by the recent war,” Abdollianpour said. Experts had begun assessing damage caused by US attacks in the southern Hormozgan province and surrounding

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  Qatar PM calls for Gulf security framework with Iran, says war must be ‘wake-up call’

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, has called for a new regional security framework that brings Gulf states and Iran together, warning that the region cannot go back to how it was before the US-Israeli war on Iran. “Iran is our neighbour,” Sheikh Al Thani told the Qatar Economic Forum in New York on Sunday. “We have to act together responsibly as a region and to make sure that we are having good relations with Iran.” He said the region could not return to how things were before the war unless Gulf states and Iran agreed a security framework ensuring that none of them posed a threat to the others. “We are hoping this

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  How silencing dynamics work in the international arena

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  For the second consecutive year Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was denied a visa to travel to the US to attend the UN General Assembly. According to the US State Department, sanctions were extended due to “their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace.” If the PA cannot be faulted on one thing, it is its unfortunate commitment to international impositions and the two-state diplomacy. As Abbas has discovered, even blind adherence to the two-state is not enough to guarantee visibility in the international arena. The EU opposed the US decision, as did the UN. In a brief statement, EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Anouar

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  Chile’s envoy to Israel at center of political storm over remarks about Palestinians

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Chile’s push to rebuild closer ties with Israel is facing a domestic political test after controversial remarks by its ambassador in Tel Aviv, Gabriel Zaliasnik, angered the country’s large Palestinian community and raised questions over the government’s foreign policy. The dispute has now reached parliament. On 8th September, the Chamber of Deputies approved an interpellation of Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna by 57 votes to 49, with one abstention. The session is scheduled for 28th September, when Socialist lawmaker Nelson Venegas is expected to question the minister over Zaliasnik’s remarks, the government’s response, and its decision to keep the ambassador in his post. The controversy began after Zaliasnik appeared in late August on the programme “Defending Israel”, hosted by David

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  The Iran War comes home before the midterms

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  On September 15, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the conflict with Iran had cost the Department of Defense about $38 billion as of August 1. The report also traced consequences beyond military operations, including depleted missile-defense stocks and higher energy prices. As the 2026 midterms approach, it documents how a war overseas has become part of domestic economic life. The midterms are not a formal referendum on the war. Americans will be choosing lawmakers rather than voting directly on continued military involvement. Yet the conflict is already before Congress, and its domestic costs are becoming clearer through federal estimates and reports from businesses affected by higher fuel prices. The $38 billion estimate includes replacing expended munitions and equipment lost

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  Erdogan: Turkey emerges as global defence player

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey has become a widely recognised force in the defence industry, both in the region and around the world, thanks to its achievements in the sector. Erdogan made the remarks during an event titled “100 Years of Friendship: Turkey-US” in New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. “Thanks to dialogue with the United States, we are achieving positive results for both countries on many issues, particularly in the Middle East,” Erdogan said. He added: “We have no intention whatsoever of separating our strategic relations with the United States from our economic and trade relations.” Erdogan said Turkey had succeeded in maintaining and strengthening its position as an island of stability

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  Man who claimed Mossad and CIA told him to shoot Palestinian students convicted of attempted murder

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  A jury in the US state of Vermont has found Jason Eaton guilty of three counts of attempted second-degree murder for shooting three Palestinian students as they walked near his Burlington home in November 2023. Jurors rejected his defence that he was legally insane at the time. The verdict came yesterday after a week-long trial in Chittenden Superior Court. The three victims, Hisham Awartani, Tahseen Aliahmad and Kinnan Abdalhamid, testified, as did psychiatric experts called by the defence and prosecution. Eaton, 51, did not dispute that he was the gunman. Eaton faces up to life in prison without parole on each count. He remains in custody, and a sentencing date has yet to be set. His lawyers said he had

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  Araghchi urges Washington to break free from Israeli lobby, calls Netanyahu a “snake”

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Israeli lobby was becoming increasingly open about its role and influence over US policy towards Iran, urging Washington to “break free” from its constraints. Araghchi made the comments in response to an article published by the Israel Hayom newspaper, noting that the newspaper is owned by Miriam Adelson, the spokesperson for this lobby. “The Israel lobby is getting less shy about its grip on US policy toward Iran. In Miriam Adelson’s publication, the Lobby’s loudspeaker says US policy must ensure America pays a price for any slight against Israel,” Araghchi said on X. He added: “High time for Washington to break free from these shackles.” Araghchi also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

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  Israeli newspaper says Netanyahu’s plane may avoid New York airport amid concerns over Mamdani

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  An Israeli newspaper reported on Monday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plane will not land at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York during his visit to the United States on Thursday, amid concerns that Mayor Zohran Mamdani could order the plane to leave immediately. Yedioth Ahronoth said Netanyahu’s plane, Israel’s official state aircraft, Wing of Zion, is expected to land at a military base in New Jersey or at Newark Liberty International Airport instead of JFK Airport in New York. The newspaper attributed the decision to “difficulties in coordinating with US authorities” and concerns that Mamdani could order Wing of Zion to take off immediately rather than remain at the airport while Netanyahu is away. It said

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  More than 160 Irish athletes call for football boycott against Israel

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  More than 160 Irish athletes have signed an open letter calling on Ireland’s national football team to boycott its next two matches against Israel in the UEFA Nations League, the Irish Sport for Palestine group said on Monday. Ireland are due to face Israel in Hungary on 27 September before meeting again in the return match in Serbia on 4 October. Both matches will be played at neutral venues and behind closed doors following protests by players and fans over the number of Palestinian civilians killed during the war in Gaza. According to Irish Sport for Palestine, the signatories include Olympic athlete Ciara Mageean, former footballer Louise Quinn, former rugby player Tony Ward, and boxers Tyrone McKenna and Eric Donovan.

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  Egypt reaffirms rejection of Palestinian displacement in talks with US Jewish organisations

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty reaffirmed Cairo’s rejection of the displacement of Palestinians during talks with representatives of several American Jewish organizations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to Egypt’s Foreign Ministry. The meeting took place as Abdelatty attended the high-level segment of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. According to the ministry, Abdelatty emphasised Egypt’s commitment to its strategic relationship with the United States and expressed Cairo’s interest in expanding bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. The discussions also addressed developments across the Middle East, with Abdelatty stressing the importance of resolving regional conflicts through diplomacy and political negotiations. He said peaceful settlements were necessary to strengthen regional and

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  Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  The Hind Rajab Foundation said on Monday that it had filed a criminal complaint with Italian authorities against an Israeli soldier who it says is currently visiting Italy, accusing him of involvement in violations of international law during Israel’s military operations in the Gaza Strip. The Brussels-based organization identified the soldier as Yonatan Shalikh and said its complaint includes involvement in war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocidal acts. “The Hind Rajab Foundation has filed a criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier Yonatan Shalikh,” the organisation said in a statement published on its website. According to the foundation, Shalikh is currently vacationing in Tuscany. It said he served with a company of Israel’s Givati Brigade operating under the command

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  Jordan FM says Gaza aid is expiring in warehouses as Israel restricts entry

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Monday that humanitarian aid intended for the Gaza Strip was expiring in warehouses because Israel was preventing it from entering the territory, and called for greater international action to enforce humanitarian law. Safadi made the remarks during a seminar in New York focused on humanitarian diplomacy and upholding international humanitarian law, according to a statement from Jordan’s Foreign Ministry. The event was organized by the European Union and Ireland and co-sponsored by Jordan, the African Union, Brazil and Canada. Safadi said more than two million Palestinians in Gaza continued to face severe deprivation and humanitarian suffering, arguing that the international community had failed to make effective use of mechanisms available under international law.

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  Tunisian defence committee says 15 detained after march supporting Gaza Flotilla activists

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  A Tunisian defence committee said on Monday that 15 people had been detained following demonstrations calling for the release of four activists associated with the Steadfastness Flotilla, an initiative organized in support of the Gaza Strip. The Defence Committee for the Steadfastness Flotilla Detainees in Tunisia said the arrests occurred in recent hours following solidarity actions in the capital. The committee identified several of those detained as activists Adel Ben Ghazi, Mariem Halfawi, Souhail Chaabi and Thoraya Chatiba. According to the group, the detainees had participated in a march through central Tunis that ended outside the Municipal Theatre on Habib Bourguiba Avenue. The committee said it had not received information about the legal grounds for the arrests or where those

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  Hamas calls on ‘Peace Council’ members to take action over Israeli ceasefire violations

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Hamas on Monday called on Arab and Islamic countries participating in the Peace Council to take what it described as a “clear and practical stance” in response to Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem accused Israel of continuing attacks that have killed Palestinian civilians despite the ceasefire agreement reached at Sharm El-Sheikh nearly a year ago. Qassem pointed to Palestinians reportedly killed in Gaza on Monday, including women and children, and characterized the continuing attacks as an extension of what Hamas describes as Israel’s war of “extermination” in the territory. He criticised the Peace Council and its institutions for what he described as their failure to explicitly identify Israel as responsible for

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  Pro-Palestinian activists cover ‘State of Israel’ Street sign in São Paulo

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian activists in Brazil temporarily covered a street sign bearing the name “Estado de Israel” (State of Israel) in São Paulo with a sticker reading “Free Palestine, from the river to the sea,” as part of a protest in solidarity with Palestinians. Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila participated in the action on Sunday. Images circulated online showed a sticker designed to resemble São Paulo’s official street signage placed over the existing sign. Following the protest, Ávila published a statement on social media criticising Israeli policies toward Palestinians and restrictions on humanitarian assistance entering the Gaza Strip. He also criticised US policy toward the conflict. Ávila has participated in several international campaigns supporting Palestinians, including maritime missions seeking to break Israel’s siege

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  Egyptian-Houthi struggle for control of the Red Sea

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Egypt stands to suffer some of the greatest losses from the escalating tensions in Bab Al-Mandab and the Red Sea, amid serious concerns that disruption to shipping through the Suez Canal could result in heavy economic, security and strategic costs. The Houthis’influence in Yemen, coupled with their intensifying attacks on Saudi territory and facilities and their control of strategic sites and islands at the entrance to the Red Sea, poses a serious threat to Egyptian influence and raises the prospect of a new Hormuz scenario for the region and the world. Cairo is facing a new regional reality that threatens not only international shipping and Suez Canal revenues, but also its regional standing, placing a poisoned dagger at its eastern

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  Iran threatens US with new weapons, new targets If US attacks

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned on Monday that if the United States launches another attack on Iran, Tehran will deploy new weapons and strike targets that have not been targeted before. IRGC spokesman Hossein Mohebbi said Iran would also change the “geography of the war” if another attack takes place. “If there is new aggression, we will certainly introduce new weapons with new capabilities into the fray, and the world will be astonished,” the Fars agency quoted him as saying. “Our targets will also no longer be the same. We have new targets that have not yet been struck.” Mohebbi said. He added that Iran was also prepared for “a prolonged war.” The threat came after the commander

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  Moroccan migrant risks life hiding under Real Valladolid team bus to reach Spain

  by Marwa A on September 22, 2026

  A 17-year-old Moroccan migrant reached the Iberian Peninsula from Ceuta after hiding underneath a bus carrying Spanish second-division football club Real Valladolid, which was returning from a match played in the North African city, the club confirmed to Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Monday. Club sources said the teenager was found curled up between the bus’s rear wheels after travelling more than 100 kilometres on board. According to the same source, he remained hidden in this way throughout the ferry journey from Ceuta to the mainland before asking for help when the bus stopped at a roadside service station. The Real Valladolid delegation took care of the minor and provided him with food, water and clothes until the Spanish Civil Guard arrived

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  UN condemns continued Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, urges restraint

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  The UN reiterated Monday its condemnation of persistent cross-border attacks launched by Yemeni Houthis against Saudi Arabia, including attempted strikes aimed at Riyadh, Anadolu reports. “We remain deeply concerned about the ongoing military escalation in and around Yemen, including Houthi offensives in Taiz, Lahij, and Marib, with grave consequences for civilians in Yemen and across the region,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told reporters. Dujarric explained that the cross-border strikes have targeted civilian areas and vital energy infrastructure across the kingdom, urging all parties to “exercise restraint and prevent any further escalation.” Recent cross-border Houthi attacks have injured civilians in southern Saudi Arabia, while renewed fighting has disrupted shipping routes and displaced civilians inside Yemen. Trump called off planned US strikes

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  Iranian president’s media team denied US visa, says official

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  An Iranian official said Monday that the US refused visas to the media team accompanying President Masoud Pezeshkian on his planned visit Tuesday to New York for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, Anadolu reports. The Iranian public would be kept informed of the latest developments regarding the bilateral meetings Pezeshkian would have during his visit, Habibollah Abbasi, director general of public relations at the Iranian presidency, said in remarks carried by Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency. He said Pezeshkian’s visit to the US would last five days, including two days allocated for travel. Abbasi added that the Iranian president would be accompanied by Mohsen Haji-Mirzaei, chief of staff of the Iranian presidency, and Seyyed Abbas Mousavi, deputy

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  Israel blocks Gaza patients from leaving for treatment for 2nd day over Jewish holidays

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  Israel prevented Palestinian patients and wounded people in the Gaza Strip from traveling abroad for treatment Monday for the second consecutive day because of Jewish holidays, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, Anadolu reports. “For the second consecutive day, no patients or wounded people have been evacuated through the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings because of holidays observed by the occupation,” the ministry said in a brief statement. According to Yoram Halevi, Israel’s coordinator of government activities in the Palestinian territories, the Rafah and Kerem Shalom crossings in southern Gaza were closed Sunday and Monday because of Jewish holidays. The closures came after Israel on Thursday reduced the number of patients, wounded people, and their companions scheduled to leave Gaza for

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  Lithuania says it will not join Eurovision 2027 boycott over Israel’s participation

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  Lithuania’s public broadcaster said Monday it was not considering withdrawing from the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest following decisions by broadcasters in Ireland and the Netherlands to boycott the competition over Israel’s participation, Anadolu reports. Lithuanian Radio and Television (LRT) said it would follow the position of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, according to Lithuanian news agency BNS. “LRT adheres to the position of the European Broadcasting Union and is not currently considering the possibility of withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest,” LRT administration said in comments sent to BNS. “The EBU decides on matters related to the organization of the contest, and LRT, as a member of the EBU, adheres to and respects the decisions made

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  Mother of ex-Royal Marine aid worker killed by Israel in Gaza calls for end to UK arms sales

  by Marwa A on September 21, 2026

  The mother of James “Jim” Henderson, one of three British aid workers killed when Israeli drone strikes hit a World Central Kitchen (WCK) convoy in Gaza in April 2024, has called on the UK government to stop selling arms to Israel and cut ties with it altogether. “Stop selling arms to Israel. Stop engaging with Israel,” Trish Henderson told the Mirror ahead of a pre-inquest review into her son’s death at Avon Coroner’s Court in Bristol today. “We are forever watching and finding out what’s going on in Gaza, and it’s just awful.” Exonerating murder: The IDF and the World Central Kitchen killings   Henderson, a 33-year-old former Royal Marine from Falmouth in Cornwall, was providing security for the convoy

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  The Left’s Elif Eralp urges Germans to consider ‘Palestinian perspectives’ on conflict with Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  The Left party’s Elif Eralp, who is poised to become Berlin’s next mayor, said on Monday that Germans should pay greater attention to the “Palestinian perspective” in their conflict with Israel, Anadolu reports. “This government has paid far too little attention to the perspectives of Muslim and Palestinian people — and, for that matter, to those of many Jewish people as well. I view it as my task to acknowledge and unite all these perspectives, and I believe that is achievable,” said Eralp at a news briefing in Berlin, where she was joined by Ines Schwerdtner, The Left co-chair. “That is why we firmly oppose the instrumentalization of criticism directed at the Israeli government. We also oppose every form of

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  All Iranian airlines to shut down worldwide by Sept. 23, US Treasury chief says

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Operations of all Iranian commercial airlines will shut down globally beginning Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday, Anadolu reports. “On September 23rd, all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world,” Bessent told US television network CNBC, outlining broad secondary sanctions aimed at isolating Tehran’s civil aviation network. Bessent explained that international hubs servicing Iranian planes would face complete exclusion from the American banking system. Foreign operators cannot refuel the aircraft, provide landing facilities, or sell passenger tickets without risking their access to dollar clearing, he warned. Iranian officials did not immediately issue a public response regarding the planned aviation restrictions. READ: US says ‘door is open’ for Iran to return to negotiations Bessent also warned third-party

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  Kuwait: Oil wealth and the need to rethink energy diplomacy

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Kuwait exports oil, yet relies on imported gas and regional electricity trade to power its economy. This dual position demonstrates why hydrocarbon wealth does not automatically deliver energy security. Oil revenues provide purchasing power; reliable supply also requires functioning power plants, fuel-receiving infrastructure and dependable transport routes. On 2nd April 2025, rising demand and generation capacity restricted by maintenance prompted temporary power cuts in some industrial and agricultural areas. Reuters reported that the outages lasted less than two hours. The problem was not oil underground, but the temporary inability to turn available resources into deliverable electricity. Kuwait’s energy diplomacy must address both sides of this equation: maintaining oil exports and securing gas and electricity supplies. International agreements and domestic reforms

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  The dual failure: How Conservatives and Labour inherited—and deepened—Britain’s ruin

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  When I first arrived in London, the country stood on the threshold of a historic shift. The public mood was electric, buoyed by the anticipation of ending decades of Conservative rule—from Margaret Thatcher’s iron certainty to John Major’s exhausted pragmatism. I remember asking my university professor at the time—a veteran journalist who understood the shadows behind the doors of 10 Downing Street—why the British public seemed almost euphoric. His answer was sharp and unambiguous: “It’s the joy of emancipation. Conservative rule has wrecked the country.” I was not entirely convinced then. But I recall that moment vividly today as Britain relitigates its past, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham openly blaming Thatcher-era deregulation for the economic paralysis gripping the country. The

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  ‘Healthcare is being deliberately targeted every day’: Israeli fire forces second Gaza clinic to evacuate in a week

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Israeli gunfire near a medical point in central Gaza supported by Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) seriously injured a woman and her child this morning, forcing patients and medical staff to evacuate, the British charity said. It is the second MAP-supported facility to be evacuated after Israeli gunfire in less than a week. The shooting took place in Abu Madeen, between Al-Bureij and Al-Maghazi, in Deir al-Balah, where MAP’s partner, the Culture and Free Thought Association (CFTA), runs the medical point.  Stray bullets hit the clinic, damaging a water tank on the roof. CFTA evacuated all patients and medical staff, with around 40 patients inside the clinic at the time. It remains unclear whether services will resume tomorrow. Less than

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  US refusal to issue visas to Palestinian delegation violates international agreements: Hamas

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Hamas on Monday condemned the US refusal to grant visas to a Palestinian delegation seeking to attend UN General Assembly meetings, Anadolu reports. “The decision constitutes a flagrant violation of the international conventions and agreements governing the work of the UN headquarters and a continuation of the policy of complete US bias toward the Zionist occupation,” Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said in a statement. The restriction has continued for a second year. In 2025, Washington denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other officials to attend the meetings, forcing Abbas to participate by video link. On Thursday, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution allowing the State of Palestine to participate in the general debate of its 81st session

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  Gaza authorities hold Israel responsible for Al-Saada building collapse that killed 21 Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  Gaza’s government media office on Monday rejected the Israeli army’s account denying that it had targeted the Al-Saada residential building, saying an earlier Israeli strike on the structure’s foundations caused its recent collapse, which killed 21 Palestinians, Anadolu reports. On Wednesday, the Israeli army claimed in a post on US social media platform X that it had not targeted the Al-Saada building during the war. “Contrary to the claims, the IDF (Israeli army) did not strike the building in question during the war,” it said. In a statement, Gaza’s government media office said the Al-Saada building was directly struck by Israel on Oct. 9, 2023, in the early days of the war. “The bombardment targeted the building’s foundations and its

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  Refineries as battlefields: Ukraine’s Moscow strike and global diesel risks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 21, 2026

  The reported Ukrainian drone attack on the Moscow region on 20th September 2026 illustrates how energy infrastructure has become a central target in the Russia–Ukraine war. Russian authorities said that three people were killed, more than 1,600 drones were intercepted across Russia, and approximately 450 were directed toward Moscow. Several drones reportedly reached the Moscow Oil Refinery, while another damaged a residential building. The attack occurred on the final day of Russia’s parliamentary elections, giving the incident both military and political significance.  The full extent of the damage remains uncertain. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian forces had struck a major Russian oil facility and a logistics site linked to Russia’s war effort. The Associated Press reported damage to