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

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  Iraq’s national carrier to resume Iran flights in October after sanctions exemption

  by Marwa A on September 29, 2026

  Iraq’s national carrier Iraqi Airways said Tuesday that it plans to resume flights to and from Iran in October after securing a “special exemption” from US sanctions that had restricted services involving Iranian airlines, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), the airline said the exemption followed “diligent efforts” by the government. Iraqi Airways had already resumed flights between Najaf and Iranian airports on Monday, according to INA. Earlier, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates suspended flights to and from Iran following new US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector. READ: Iranian rial hits fresh record low as US dollar tops 2.5M in free market

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  Israeli opposition forms 3 working teams to unseat Netanyahu, form ‘Zionist government’

  by Marwa A on September 29, 2026

  The Israeli opposition announced Tuesday the formation of three joint working teams aimed at coordinating efforts to unseat Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and form what it called a “Zionist government” after the Oct. 27 election, Anadolu reports. The five-party opposition alliance notably excluded Arab parties from the joint initiative ahead of next month’s general election, seen as crucial for both Netanyahu’s government and the opposition. On Saturday, opposition leaders Yair Lapid, Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, Avigdor Lieberman, and Yair Golan agreed to form a “change bloc” to coordinate their election efforts. Opinion polls indicate that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor the opposition bloc would secure the 61 seats needed to form a government in the 120-member Knesset. The opposition could

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  EU seeks deeper partnership, more investment in Syria, foreign policy chief says

  by Marwa A on September 29, 2026

  The European Union is seeking to deepen ties with Damascus and increase investment in Syria, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Her remarks came during a joint news conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani at Tishreen Palace in Damascus during her visit to Syria. “We aim to mobilize even more investment and upgrade our partnership,” Kallas said, noting that Syria’s transition “matters greatly” for the bloc. “The European Union is using its political and economic tools to help Syria on the path of inclusive and peaceful transition.” Kallas said she proposed technical talks this year on political and security issues, recovery and reconstruction, followed by a high-level political dialogue before next summer. She said

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  Abbas’s UNGA speech omits important historical realities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas warned of a greater danger than threats to the two-state politics during his UNGA prerecorded speech, he rendered the warning invalid by making the threats sound recent and new. Not only was Abbas warning the wrong audience, he also used the same audience’s language – that of international complacency – to undermine the reality of Israel’s ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.   The threat, Abbas said, “has now come to threaten the very life and existence of the Palestinian people on their homeland.” However, the threat of ethnic cleansing was what sustained the colonial Zionist ideology even before the establishment of Israel’s colonial enterprise on stolen Palestinian land. The UN General Assembly knows its history,

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  Japan signals support to Syria under al-Sharaa, lifts sanctions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Japan on Tuesday said it was lifting partial sanctions on Syria, signaling support to the government of President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Anadolu reports. Japan’s top government spokesman Minoru Kihara told reporters that many of the entities being removed from the sanctions list “are expected to play a role in Syria’s reconstruction,” state-run NHK news reported. Syria and Japan restored diplomatic ties last December, following a 15-year breakdown, a year after al-Sharaa formed the government following the ousting of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Stability and development in Syria “are directly linked to stability across the entire Middle East,” he said, adding that Tokyo “intends to support the country.” READ: Syria calls on EU to pressure Israel ‘effectively’ to halt attacks

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  Iranian rial hits fresh record low as US dollar tops 2.5M in free market

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Iran’s rial fell to a fresh record low against the US dollar on Tuesday, with the free-market rate crossing 2.5 million rials per dollar, Anadolu reports. The dollar was quoted at 2.542 million rials, up 3.84% from the previous day, according to Pashizi, a website tracking Iran’s free foreign exchange market. It reached an intraday high of 2.548 million rials. The latest decline follows a series of record lows for the currency. The dollar reached 2.4 million rials in the free market on Monday, amid heavy US sanctions and high inflation. Iran’s currency has weakened further since the US-Israeli assault began in February, as the war and a US naval blockade put additional pressure on the economy. The latest slide

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  Syria calls on EU to pressure Israel ‘effectively’ to halt attacks on its territory

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Tuesday called on the European Union to move beyond statements of concern and exert effective pressure on Israel to halt its continuing attacks on Syria, Anadolu reports. “This systematic aggression against a country that is recovering requires more than statements of concern; it requires effective pressure to stop these attacks,” Shaibani told a joint press conference with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Damascus. He called on the EU Foreign Affairs Council to take “a decisive position by calling these attacks by their true name” and demanding the withdrawal of Israeli forces to the lines held on Dec. 8, 2024. Shaibani also called for the issue to be explicitly placed on the agenda

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  Iraq’s energy paradox: Oil power, electricity vulnerability

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Holding roughly 145 billion barrels of proved crude reserves, Iraq ranks among the world’s major petroleum powers, yet its electricity system still comes under severe strain each summer. In 2024, available peak supply stood at about 25 GW, against roughly 48 GW needed to meet summer peak demand, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). The mismatch reflects less a shortage of energy resources than decades of weak gas capture, inefficient generation and exceptionally high transmission and distribution losses. Oil rich, power poor The weakness begins inside the grid. The International Energy Agency estimates Iraq’s transmission and distribution losses at around 50–60 per cent, among the highest in the world. Ageing infrastructure explains part of the problem, but technical

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  Qatar confirms relaying messages between US, Iran to end war

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Qatar said Tuesday it is relaying messages between the US and Iran as part of its mediation efforts to end their war, Anadolu reports. “Qatar’s mediation efforts are ongoing, and we are currently relaying messages between the American and Iranian sides,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al-Ansari told a press conference in Doha. Asked about the possibility of a large-scale US military attack on Iran, Ansari said: “We are concerned about any escalation in the region and are working to find a peaceful solution.” READ: US military rejects Iranian claims of controlling Strait of Hormuz In February, the US and Israel launched a war against Iran, which responded with attacks on US assets across the region before a ceasefire agreement was reached

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  Israeli plan for occupiers-exclusive route to deepen division of Ramallah: Palestinian commission

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  A Palestinian commission warned Tuesday of an Israeli plan to reopen Route 463 for occupiers in a move that could isolate eight villages and two major residential neighborhoods in northern Ramallah and Al-Bireh from areas to the south, Anadolu reports. “The road runs through the urban area of Ramallah and Al-Bireh in the central occupied West Bank, separating its northern and southern parts,” the commission said in a statement. It warned that reopening the road to occupiers would isolate eight villages and two major residential neighborhoods in the northern part of the urban area from the rest of the governorate. “The measure would force tens of thousands of Palestinians to use an old alternative road near the Jalazone refugee camp,”

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  Italy completes withdrawal of armed forces from Iraq after 12 years

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Italy has completed the withdrawal of its armed forces from Iraq, ending a 12-year deployment, Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The last personnel, who had remained to recover and transfer logistical equipment, have returned, Crosetto said in a statement. The withdrawal was completed ahead of a Sept. 30 deadline agreed with Iraqi authorities. “From tomorrow, therefore, our military presence in Iraq will end,” Crosetto said. He said the move was part of a new phase agreed with Iraq and partner countries, in which Iraqi security forces would assume full responsibility for the country’s security. READ: Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint in Italy against Israeli soldier The US-led coalition’s Operation Inherent Resolve and NATO Mission Iraq will continue

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  4 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Four Palestinians were killed and several others, including children, were injured in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday amid daily violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, 2025. A medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital told Anadolu that the bodies of two Palestinians and several injured people, including children, were brought to the hospital after an Israeli airstrike targeted an apartment in the Al-Nasr neighborhood west of Gaza City. According to an Anadolu correspondent, the strike targeted an apartment in the Al-Batoul building, killing two Palestinians and injuring several others, including children. Witnesses said an Israeli suicide drone carried out the strike after hovering over the area shortly before the attack. The strike caused panic among

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  Lebanese army gets 47 Humvees, 5 trucks under US assistance programs

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  The Lebanese army said Tuesday that it had received 47 Humvee military vehicles and five trucks as part of US assistance programs for the armed forces, Anadolu reports. A military statement said that the vehicles were delivered at Beirut port. “This grant comes within the framework of US authorities’ support for the military institution, with the aim of strengthening its operational capabilities and raising the readiness of its units,” the statement said. It added that the initiative “reflects the confidence of the US authorities in the army’s role in maintaining security and stability in Lebanon.” READ: Israeli wars may cost Lebanon over $27B, prime minister says The delivery came a week after the Lebanese army received 70 containers of various types

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  Gulf countries seek alternative export routes amid Hormuz crisis

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Gulf countries are looking to find alternative oil and gas export routes due to the security crisis in the Strait of Hormuz after the joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February prompted Tehran to close the vital waterway in retaliation, exposing vulnerabilities in the region’s energy infrastructure, Anadolu reports. The Strait of Hormuz typically handles around 20% of global oil supplies, and its closure led to varying outcomes depending on the alternative infrastructure capacities and vulnerabilities among Gulf nations. Only Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have active pipeline infrastructure able to bypass the strait, according to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA). Kuwait, Qatar, and Bahrain rely on maritime transit via the

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  Turkish-Israeli rift grows irreversibly amid Israeli expansionism and aggression

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  The 81st United Nations General Assembly session once again exposed a diplomatic rupture that has been taking place for several years. In his address to the world body, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan deliberately refused to name Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a calculated diplomatic strategy that Turkish analysts describe as a “legal and moral quarantine” designed to strip the Israeli leader of any legitimacy or diplomatic standing. Instead, Erdoğan focused his remarks on Gaza, the Palestinians, and the dysfunction of the international system, calling for greater pressure on Israel and the recognition of Palestine as an independent state. Netanyahu, by contrast, responded with a direct and personal attack. From the UN podium, the Israeli prime minister called Erdoğan a

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  Saudi crown prince reaffirms support for Sudan’s stability in call with Burhan

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed his country’s support for efforts to achieve stability in Sudan and preserve its unity and sovereignty during a phone call with Sudanese Transitional Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Anadolu reports. According to the Saudi state news agency SPA, bin Salman stressed the kingdom’s commitment to Sudan’s stability and to preserving its sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity. He also affirmed Saudi Arabia’s “support for all efforts to achieve stability in Sudan in a way that would pave the way for comprehensive development and enable displaced people and refugees to return to their homes.” ​​​​​​​Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023

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  Israeli opposition accuses Netanyahu government of encouraging occupier violence in West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Israeli opposition leaders on Tuesday accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of encouraging “extremists” and fostering a climate of chaos amid escalating attacks by occupiers against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The criticism came after occupiers attacked the Palestinian villages of Jalud, Qaryut and Al-Mughayyir early Tuesday, setting fire to homes and vehicles and assaulting an elderly woman, while Israeli forces also raided several areas in the occupied territory. The army said in a statement that its forces and Border Police operated overnight in Jalud “to disperse Israeli rioters,” and sought to coordinate the return of a Palestinian family to its home in the village after the family had been forced to leave following

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  WHO warns health system in Yemen nearing ‘breaking point’ as casualties, displacement rise

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Yemen’s latest conflict escalation is pushing its already fragile health system toward a “breaking point,” with casualties and displacement rising while essential services face mounting pressure, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Annette Heinzelmann, WHO regional emergency director for the Eastern Mediterranean, told journalists in Geneva that 4,481 casualties, including 838 deaths, have been reported since Aug. 6, citing data from the Health Ministry in Aden. More than 180,500 people have been displaced across 10 governorates, while over 3,600 Yemenis have crossed into Djibouti since Sept. 10, nearly half of them children. Humanitarian partners are preparing for 5,000 to 10,000 arrivals in the coming weeks. Heinzelmann said nine health facilities or assets have been damaged, forced out

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  Gaza and the future of Middle Eastern geopolitics: Diplomacy, reconstruction and Palestinian statehood

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  The future of Gaza is no longer simply a question of ending a war. It has become a defining question for the political architecture of the Middle East. Diplomacy, reconstruction and Palestinian statehood are inseparable dimensions of the same geopolitical challenge. How Gaza is governed, rebuilt and politically integrated will influence Israeli-Palestinian relations and the roles of Egypt, Qatar, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the United States, the European Union and the wider international community. As of September 2026, the United Nations reports that the Gaza ceasefire that began in October 2025 remains fragile, while the transitional arrangements envisaged under Security Council Resolution 2803 (2025) have not yet been fully implemented. The UN also emphasises that Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction cannot

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  Russia wants Iran to remain part of nuclear treaty: Kremlin

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Russia on Tuesday urged Iran to remain ‘a responsible party’ to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) following statements from Tehran that it seeks to withdraw from the nuclear treaty, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters during a press briefing, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow has heard statements on the possibility of Tehran’s withdrawal from the NPT from Ali Nikzad, the Iranian parliament’s deputy speaker, and that these remarks require further clarification. “We would not want Iran to withdraw from the NPT. We consider the NPT to be the cornerstone of the non-proliferation regime. And we do hope that Iran will remain an important and responsible party to this treaty,” Peskov said. READ: Trump willing to offer Iran sanctions relief for nuclear progress:

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  Violence, Israeli settlement make life ‘intolerable’ for Palestinians in West Bank: Red Cross

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Violence, movement restrictions and accelerating Israeli settlement expansion are making living conditions increasingly “intolerable” for Palestinian civilians in the occupied West Bank, the International Committee of the Red Cross said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The ICRC said dozens of Palestinians have been killed, hundreds injured and many more displaced this year, while homes and property have been damaged or destroyed, leaving families without shelter or livelihoods. “The frequent and severe violence must be brought to an end,” said Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC delegation for Israel and the Palestinian occupied territories. “(Israeli) authorities have a responsibility to protect the population from violence, including when that violence is inflicted by settlers. What international humanitarian law says on the protection of private

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  Israeli national security minister storms Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron with hundreds of occupiers

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Extremist Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir stormed the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron in the southern West Bank on Tuesday along with hundreds of occupiers, Anadolu reports. Ben-Gvir’s incursion came a day after he forced his way into the flashpoint Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during the Jewish Sukkot holiday, which began Sunday and runs through Saturday. Israel’s Channel 14 broadcast footage showing Ben-Gvir during the intrusion into the Ibrahimi Mosque. “When I arrive at the Ibrahimi Mosque, I draw energy that makes me want to sing and rejoice,” Ben-Gvir, who has lived as an occupier in Hebron for years, told the channel during the visit. Hundreds of occupiers could be seen behind him during the interview. Israeli authorities

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  Iran parliament speaker warns no one in region will sell oil if Tehran cannot

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf warned Tuesday that no country in the region would be able to sell oil if Iran were prevented from doing so, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. “The US and other countries should know, as we have said, that in a region where we cannot sell oil, no one will sell oil,” Qalibaf said. His warning comes as Iran faces severe restrictions on its oil exports amid the ongoing conflict with Washington and US sanctions. Iran’s Central Bank governor said in August that the country’s oil exports had fallen to zero, saying Tehran was no longer exporting crude because of the war and sanctions. The US military, meanwhile, said on Sept. 19 that

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  Gaza authorities report over 5,100 Israeli ceasefire violations, warn of ‘imminent catastrophe’ as winter approaches

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Israel has committed 5,147 violations of the Gaza ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, killing 1,421 Palestinians, the Government Media Office said Tuesday, warning of an imminent humanitarian catastrophe and as winter approaches, Anadolu reports. “Humanitarian and relief conditions in the Gaza Strip had become dangerous and catastrophic, exposing hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians to deadly consequences,” the office said in a statement. It dismissed Israeli claims that ample supplies had been allowed into Gaza as “misleading.” “Israel permitted only 35% of the agreed number of trucks carrying humanitarian and relief aid and reconstruction materials to enter the enclave,” the office said. “Only 72,826 trucks were allowed to enter out of 210,600 humanitarian and relief trucks and

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  Syria: Gas pipeline fire in Deir ez-Zor blamed on sabotage

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  A fire broke out on a gas pipeline between Al-Shoula and Deir ez-Zor in eastern Syria on Monday, which authorities said was caused by an act of sabotage. The official Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) quoted Hisham al-Saleh, head of the gas sector at the Syrian Petroleum Company, as saying the fire had halted gas supplies from the Al-Jbessa gas plant to power stations. READ: Israeli forces shell outskirts of Beit Jinn, launch incursion into southern Syria with 9 military vehicles Al-Saleh said firefighting teams immediately isolated the area on both sides of the blaze and were continuing efforts to put out the fire as gas pressure in the area fell, SANA reported. The area between Al-Shoula and Deir ez-Zor contains

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  Netanyahu rejects AP report, says UAE talks focused on regional issues

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said early on Tuesday that his visit to the United Arab Emirates focused on strengthening ties between the two countries and addressing regional challenges. In a statement, the office said the visit included Netanyahu’s wife, the head of the National Security Council, the head of the Mossad, a military secretary, and a political adviser. Netanyahu’s office also rejected an earlier report by the Associated Press (AP), describing it as “fake news” and saying the visit focused exclusively on strengthening bilateral ties and discussing regional issues. READ: Netanyahu asks UAE president to deny report on Oct. 7 warning during secret visit: Report AP had quoted a person familiar with the matter as saying the visit focused

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  Yemen’s latest escalation shows why the country needs a political settlement, not another military cycle

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Yemen is once again confronting a dangerous escalation in a war that has repeatedly demonstrated the limits of military solutions. The latest fighting, particularly along the country’s western coast and in the vicinity of the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, is a reminder that Yemen’s conflict has never been simply a contest between two military forces. It is a complex political crisis involving competing national projects, regional interests, economic grievances and unresolved questions about the future structure of the Yemeni state. In September, the United Nations warned that fighting had intensified along Yemen’s west coast as Houthi forces advanced towards the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, while government forces launched a counteroffensive on several fronts. The UN also described the situation around the strait

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  Iraqi Hezbollah brigades threaten to bring down al-Zaidi government

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Iraqi Hezbollah brigades threatened on Monday evening to “bring down” the government of Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi if it failed to work in the interests of the people, and warned that border crossings with countries involved in the air blockade of Iran could be closed. Abu Mujahid al-Assaf, the group’s security official, said in a social media post: “We warn Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi and those behind him that any government that does not work in the interests of the people will be brought down by all means.” He added that “the Iraqi people will celebrate on the 30th of this month the expulsion of US occupation forces and NATO from Iraq”. READ: Iraq prime minister rejects extension

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  Israeli reports: Netanyahu held secret UAE meetings with Saudi, Arab representatives

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  The UAE and Israel officially confirmed on Monday evening that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Abu Dhabi and met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. Israeli reports said the visit also included a secret meeting with representatives of several regional countries, including Saudi Arabia and states without diplomatic ties with Israel, to discuss Iran, the Houthis and air defence cooperation. Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement that the prime minister and his wife visited the UAE on Sunday “at the invitation of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed”. The visit focused on “strengthening relations between the two countries and regional challenges”. Netanyahu was accompanied by the head of the National Security Council, the head of the Mossad, the military

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  Ben-Gvir’s threat to Palestinian shackled prisoner sparks calls to act on detainees

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s appearance inside the cell of Palestinian prisoner Hassan Salameh, where he threatened him with death and execution, has sparked widespread reactions on social media and calls to move beyond condemning abuses to seeking practical ways to secure prisoners’ release.  Activist Khaled Al-Juhani said Salameh was “the owner of the land and the owner of the right”, describing him as the “engineer of revenge operations” for Yahya Ayyash. In a post on X, Al-Juhani said Ben-Gvir’s appearance while threatening Salameh with death came as he confronted a prisoner “who knows he will die”, but who, according to Al-Juhani, believes he lived and worked for a cause he considered worth sacrificing for. READ: Ben-Gvir’s visit to Palestinian

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  Cairo denies Ethiopian army chief’s accusations of supporting opposition armed groups

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Cairo has rejected accusations by Ethiopia’s army chief that Egypt supports armed groups fighting government forces, reaffirming its commitment to respecting state sovereignty and non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. Nader Zaki, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry’s official spokesman, said in a post on his official account that Egypt’s foreign policy “is based on firm principles, foremost among them respect for the sovereignty of states and their unity and territorial integrity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries”. “Therefore, any claims that cast doubt on Egypt’s commitment to these established principles are null and void,” Zaki added. The statement came after remarks by Ethiopian army chief Marshal Berhanu Jula, who accused Eritrea, Egypt, and Sudan of supporting armed groups

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Mark Pfeifeil: Who is Winning The War of Narration, Trump or Iran?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Boyd Barrett: Trump: We have reached a pivotal turning point. Is war coming? 

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  Former Shin Bet chief says he will sue Netanyahu over 7th October accusations

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Former Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar said on Monday that he plans to file a defamation lawsuit against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, escalating a public dispute over responsibility for the security failures surrounding the Hamas-led 7th October 2023 attack. Bar’s announcement followed accusations by Netanyahu that the former head of Israel’s domestic security agency had been aware of warning signs on the night before the attack but failed to inform the prime minister or take sufficient action. Bar rejected the allegations and accused Netanyahu of conducting a campaign aimed at shifting responsibility onto security officials. Bar said his lawyers would seek disclosure of documents concerning information provided to Netanyahu before the attack, including the prime minister’s schedule of meetings

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  Israel summons Spanish diplomat over minister’s ‘From the River to the Sea’ remarks

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Israel summoned Spain’s chargé d’affaires on Monday after Spanish Youth and Children Minister Sira Rego expressed support for a “free Palestine from the river to the sea,” prompting a new diplomatic dispute between the two countries. Rego made the remarks on 24th September at an event in Madrid introducing the Palestinian ambassador to Spain, Fadi Elhusseini. She said Spanish society’s position was clear in supporting “a free Palestine from the river to the sea.” The minister also defended Spain’s policies toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the country had not “chosen the wrong side” by supporting Palestinian rights. She cited Spain’s recognition of a Palestinian state and other measures adopted by the government. Rego has separately called for stronger measures against

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  Former Israeli diplomat warns country could face apartheid-era South Africa-style isolation

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Former Israeli ambassador Avi Pazner has warned that Israel could face unprecedented international sanctions and political isolation if the government’s current policies continue, comparing the potential trajectory to the pressure placed on apartheid-era South Africa. Pazner, who previously served as Israel’s ambassador to France and Italy and as a media adviser to former Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, made the remarks in an internal exchange among former Israeli Foreign Ministry officials, according to a report published Monday by Ynet. “Most of us witnessed the process South Africa went through when economic and political sanctions were imposed on it in the mid-1980s, leading to the collapse of the apartheid regime in the early 1990s,” Pazner wrote. He said that sanctions targeting Israel

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  UN lists 214 companies involved in Israeli settlement-related business activities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  The UN Human Rights Office has identified 214 companies from 11 countries as involved in specified business activities linked to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, according to an updated database released on Monday. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said it added 61 companies to the database and removed five after determining that they had ceased the activities covered by its mandate. The database, first published in 2020 under a mandate from the UN Human Rights Council, examines corporate involvement in a defined set of activities connected to Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Companies included in the latest update operate across sectors including agriculture, transportation and storage, waste management, energy, food

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  Source: Fatah invites Hamas to open-agenda Palestinian dialogue in Cairo

  by Mehdi Editor on September 29, 2026

  Fatah has formally invited Hamas to participate in a comprehensive Palestinian national dialogue in Cairo with an open agenda covering political, institutional and organisational issues, an informed Palestinian source told Quds Press on Monday. According to the source, the invitation was conveyed by Jibril Rajoub, secretary-general of Fatah’s Central Committee, who expressed the movement’s readiness to discuss a broad range of issues without limiting the talks to a single dispute or political file. The proposed discussions would include internal Palestinian political issues, relations involving the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), mechanisms for broader national participation and proposals for rebuilding Palestinian political institutions, the source said. The source said Fatah’s proposed delegation would be headed by Rajoub and include

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  Iraq’s national airline resumes flights between Najaf, Iranian airports

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Iraqi Airways resumed its flights between the country’s Najaf International Airport and Iranian airports on Monday, according to Iraqi state media. The resumption came after Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s “intensive efforts,” state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA) reported. The move came after Iraqi Ambassador to Iran Yasser Abdul Zahra Al-Hajjaj said earlier Monday that Najaf International Airport would resume receiving Iranian flights, the INA said. Earlier, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Oman and the United Arab Emirates suspended flights to and from Iran following new US sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector. READ: Iran files complaint with UN aviation agency over US flight restrictions

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  Former German vice chancellor accuses Israel of war crimes in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Former German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck accused Israel of war crimes in Gaza, media reports said Monday. “I think there is plenty of evidence that war crimes were committed in Gaza,” Habeck told public broadcaster ARD. While “every form of antisemitism must be named and fought, this should not lead to a ban on speaking out or to an unspoken rule that one must not criticize Israel and the Netanyahu government,” he added. Habeck, who was Germany’s vice chancellor from 2021 until 2025, linked the rise in antisemitism to Israel’s war crimes in Gaza. “The reason antisemitism is so prevalent on the left right now is because of Israel’s actions and the war crimes it has committed in Gaza!” READ: UN

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  Sudan says ‘foreign interference must end,’ RSF must be disarmed

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Sudan on Monday called for an end to foreign interference and urged the disarmament of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), Anadolu reports. “Foreign interference must end, and the terrorist militia (RSF) must be dismantled and disarmed to achieve stability in the country,” Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohieddin Salem said in a speech at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Sudan’s Sovereignty Council Chairman Abdel Fattah al-Burhan was scheduled to address the assembly on Monday, but the US “prevented this by not issuing him an entry visa,” Salem said, calling for an investigation into Washington’s refusal to allow al-Burhan to participate in the UN General Assembly. Sudan has been engulfed in a war between the army

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  UN warns Israeli restrictions, funding gaps hamper Gaza winter preparations

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  The UN said Monday that continued Israeli restrictions and funding shortfalls are severely limiting preparations for Gaza’s winter season, with available tents and shelter materials enough for only 50,000 households, Anadolu reports. “The Israeli authorities need to approve critical items, and they need to do so quickly,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a news briefing. “Our humanitarian colleagues warn that funding shortfalls, as well as continued Israeli restrictions, are severely limiting preparations for the rainy season,” he said. Dujarric said that in the first three weeks of September, humanitarian partners established community heating points at 88 displacement sites, which together host 10% of Gaza’s population, by setting up 170 reinforced tents. “However, many more tents are needed, along

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  Trump willing to offer Iran sanctions relief for nuclear progress: Reports

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  US President Donald Trump is willing to offer economic sanctions relief and release frozen funds to Iran in exchange for concrete progress related to its nuclear program, a US official told American news outlets Axios and CNN on Monday. Washington is engaging in “positive and constructive” talks via mediators, CNN quoted a US official as saying, emphasizing that negotiators would not finalize an agreement unless nuclear-related concerns received full resolution. The White House did not immediately respond to a request by Anadolu for comment on the remarks. The prospective diplomatic opening comes after Trump on Saturday rejected an Iranian proposal aimed at easing tensions and reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz, calling Tehran’s conditions “unacceptable” amid the seven-month Iran war.

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  At UN, Algeria says Israel seeks to divide Somalia, violates Gaza ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf on Monday said Israel is seeking to divide Somalia, attacking Syria and Lebanon, and failing to uphold the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. Addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Attaf said Israel continued to kill Palestinian civilians despite the ceasefire in Gaza, which has been in effect since October 2025. He reaffirmed Algeria’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to establish “an independent, fully sovereign state with Jerusalem as its capital.” Attaf also condemned Israel’s “continued attacks” in Syria and Lebanon and its “efforts to divide Somalia.” READ: UK foreign minister denounces Netanyahu government, vows tougher action over Gaza Turning to wider international affairs, Attaf warned of mounting crises and

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  Netanyahu asks UAE president to deny report on Oct. 7 warning during secret visit: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed during a secret meeting Sunday to deny a report that he had warned Netanyahu of an imminent Hamas attack before Oct. 7, 2023, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported Monday. Netanyahu asked bin Zayed to deny reports about their phone conversation and details surrounding the events before Oct. 7 that “could embarrass him,” Haaretz said, citing unspecified sources. The Israeli premier also asked the Emirati president for what one source described as “moral support,” the newspaper reported. Netanyahu held an hour-long meeting with bin Zayed, according to two people briefed on the trip. Israeli and Emirati authorities had not officially confirmed the reported visit. READ: Israeli columnist warns of wider boycotts if

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  Settler Violence in the West Bank and the UK Settlement Import Ban

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Palestinian communities across the occupied West Bank are being driven from their land by armed settlers, in what the Foreign Secretary himself has called ethnic cleansing. Homes are torched, livestock killed and entire Bedouin villages emptied, while the perpetrators act with near-total impunity. On 8 September, Britain finally moved: a ban on all goods from illegal Israeli settlements and on UK firms financing, building or advertising for them. But the ban won’t take effect for six to nine months, and it leaves investment untouched. Is this real accountability, or another exercise in looking busy while the occupation’s economy keeps running? MEMO’s Nasim Ahmed hosts a panel of leading legal and political experts to confront the violence, name who is responsible

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  Indonesia was right to walk out at the UNGA. One Palestine, not two states, is what should come next

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  On September 24, Indonesian diplomats walked out of the UN General Assembly hall in New York. They left their seats just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rose to speak. They were not alone. Diplomats from several other countries left too, crowding the exit doors. Netanyahu mocked them, telling anyone still planning to leave that they should do it now, before he began. The next day, Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry explained why. The walkout, it said, was solidarity with the Palestinian people. It was also a protest against what Jakarta called crimes against humanity and violations of international law in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. That walkout deserves respect. Most diplomatic protest happens quietly, in written statements or closed meetings.

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  Israeli columnist warns of wider boycotts if Netanyahu remains in power

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  A prominent Israeli columnist warned Monday that Israel could become increasingly isolated internationally if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains in power, saying the consequences could soon affect Israelis’ finances, banks and air travel as calls for a boycott grow. Writing in Yedioth Ahronoth, Nahum Barnea said European governments were holding sanctions in reserve until after Israel’s election, scheduled for Oct. 27. He suggested that measures related to settlements in the occupied West Bank could extend to businesses, visas, sports, culture and research amid growing pressure across Europe to isolate Israel. Barnea said public pressure in Europe to boycott Israel was increasing. “Our problem, unfortunately, is with democratic countries. With dictatorships, for the moment, we are getting along rather well,” he

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  Iran files complaint with UN aviation agency over US flight restrictions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Iran has filed a complaint with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) over US restrictions affecting its aviation sector, the head of the country’s Civil Aviation Organization said Monday, Anadolu reports. Abuzar Shiroudi told Iran’s official IRNA news agency that Tehran had submitted documents supporting its complaint and was pursuing legal and diplomatic efforts to lift the restrictions and restore previously operated routes. Direct flights to European countries face restrictions, he said, adding that travelers were using connections through regional hubs, particularly Istanbul, as an alternative. Iraq, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates have recently suspended flights to and from Iran following new US sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector. Iran and Iraq also held talks on operating flights

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  Yemen casualties rising by around 100 per day amid escalating conflict: WHO

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Casualties from the latest escalation in Yemen are continuing to rise at a rate of roughly 100 per day, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), Anadolu reports. A WHO report issued Sunday said Yemen’s Health Emergency Operations Center, or HEOC, recorded 809 new casualties between Sept. 19 and 26, including 645 injuries and 164 deaths. The new figures brought the cumulative total since Aug. 6 to 4,481 casualties, including 838 deaths. Lahj remains heaviest front The WHO said Lahj remains the heaviest front in terms of casualties. Al-Madharibah wa Ras Al-Arah and the Bab el-Mandeb coast accounted for the largest daily casualty burden on both days for which detailed field reports were available, it said. READ: Yemen’s army says 13

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  Iranian foreign minister to meet mediators in New York over Hormuz proposal: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on September 28, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to meet mediators in New York on Monday to discuss proposals concerning the Strait of Hormuz and talks with the US, Iranian news agency ISNA reported. No US representative will attend the meeting, it said. Araghchi and the Iranian delegation are due to review the latest proposals and views on the current situation with the mediators, according to ISNA. At the start of his New York visit, Araghchi said Iran had proposed reopening the strait as part of an agreement to end the war, in exchange for the release of Iranian funds and assets that Tehran says have been unlawfully frozen. ISNA said the proposal was conveyed to the US side through mediators