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

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  Over 529,000 refugees return to Sudan in two years, UN says

  by MI on February 16, 2026

  More than 529,000 refugees have returned to Sudan from neighbouring countries over the past two years, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). In a report released on Sunday, the agency said it had registered 529,661 people who crossed back into Sudan between January 2024 and December 2025. Sudan has been gripped by conflict since April 2023, when fighting erupted between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over the integration of the paramilitary group into the armed forces. The war has triggered what the United Nations describes as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with tens of thousands reported killed and around 13 million people displaced. READ: Sudan urges African Union to end suspension of its

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  SDF chief says Kurds seek local autonomy within unified Syria

  by MI on February 16, 2026

  The commander-in-chief of the Syrian Democratic Forces, Mazloum Abdi, has said that the Kurds’ principal demand in north-eastern Syria is decentralised local governance, regardless of the terminology used. Speaking at the conclusion of his participation in the Munich Security Conference, Abdi told Rudaw Network that the core issue is enabling Kurds to manage their own regions and safeguard their distinct identity. Responding to comments by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani rejecting the notion of Kurdish “self-rule”, Abdi said the dispute lay more in labels than substance. “We are not attached to a specific name,” he said, “but to the principle that Kurds should administer their regions autonomously.” READ: Syria says talks with Israel aim to stop interference, not accept terms imposed

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  Missiles, carriers, and red lines: Washington, Tehran and Jerusalem face off in a historic confrontation. Who blinks first?

  by MI on February 16, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington last week was far from a routine diplomatic exercise. The objective was straightforward: convince President Donald Trump to intensify pressure on Iran. Netanyahu’s demands were unambiguous and uncompromising: Iran must be stripped of its nuclear program, the missile production plants must be dismantled, and the number and range of hypersonic missiles must be capped. For Israel, the Iranian missiles are an existential threat. But Trump has also been unambiguous in his response. “Either we reach a deal, or we’ll have to do something very tough,” he said in a statement to Israeli Channel 12. The attempt was to sound tough, but in the process, the President has also placed himself in a

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  Israeli group warns Trump: Netanyahu is misleading you on full West Bank annexation

  by MI on February 16, 2026

  The Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now has warned that the Israeli government is taking steps that amount to the full annexation of the West Bank, despite recent comments by Donald Trump opposing such a move. In a statement issued on Sunday, Peace Now said that only days after President Trump declared his opposition to Israel annexing the West Bank, the Israeli government had taken a decision that “amounts to full annexation”.  The group added: “We warn President Trump: Netanyahu is deceiving you. You said you would not allow annexation, but he is carrying it out right under your nose.” Peace Now stressed that the government’s decision on settlement activity in the West Bank represents a large-scale seizure of Palestinian land. 

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  Egypt issues strong statement against Israel

  by MI on February 16, 2026

  Egypt has issued a strongly worded official statement condemning the Israeli government’s decision to resume land registration and settlement procedures in the occupied West Bank for the first time since 1967. Cairo described the move as a “dangerous escalation” aimed at entrenching Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory and undermining the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people. The statement said the decision represents a clear breach of international law and international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949 and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, most notably Resolution 2334 of 2016. The statement added that the Israeli measure contradicts the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 19th July 2024, which affirmed the illegality of

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  Oslo’s legacy: De facto annexation and an international mandate for subjugation

  by MI on February 16, 2026

  The Oslo Accords were never a peace process. They were distractions, a scam to neutralise the Palestinian movement and give reactionary Arab dictators a fig leaf to normalise with Israel. They were a political deception, aimed at ending the Palestinian civil uprising (Intifada), dismantle the armed struggle and grant Israel time, space, and international cover to quietly complete its colonisation of Palestine. Israel’s recent security cabinet decisions advancing de facto annexation across the West Bank thus constitute the logical culmination of the real Israeli strategic objectives to undermine the very foundations for any future Palestinian entity.   From the outset, Oslo demanded upfront concessions from Palestinians whilst imposing no commitments on Israel. Palestinians were forced to recognise Israel, renounce armed resistance,

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  Palestinian security forces ‘regret’ death of 2 children in Tubas operation

  by MI on February 16, 2026

  The Palestinian Security Forces have expressed “deep regret” over the death of two children and the injury of others during a security operation in Tubas, north-east of the West Bank, in an incident that has drawn widespread condemnation. In an official statement, the security establishment said it was closely following what happened during a mission carried out by a security force in Tubas to arrest a man wanted by law. The statement said the operation resulted in the death of the wanted man’s son and the injury of his daughter. The statement expressed “deep regret for the victims who fell during the mission” and confirmed that the circumstances of the incident are still under careful and thorough review.  It added

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  Peace with Israel ‘not possible’ under constant violations of Palestinian rights, says foreign minister

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Palestine’s foreign minister on Sunday said peace with Israel is “not possible” while Palestinian rights continue to be violated, stressing international law must be upheld and unilateral measures halted. Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, Varsen Aghabekian Shaheen said “peace with Israel under conditions of constant violation of Palestinian rights is not possible.” She argued that unilateral Israeli actions in occupied territory, West Bank and East Jerusalem, such as illegal settlement expansions and legalizations, undermine prospects for a negotiated settlement. “Everything that Israel is undertaking unilaterally in occupied territory should be considered null and void,” she said, stressing annexation “is in violation of international law, and it is a crime that needs to be stopped.”

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  Gaza Civil Defense launches campaign to recover bodies from rubble

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Palestinian civil defense crews in Gaza launched a campaign Sunday to recover the bodies of Palestinians killed during Israel’s genocidal war and still trapped under the rubble of their homes in northern Gaza, Anadolu reports. The initiative, titled “Dignifying the Martyrs,” began in the town of Beit Lahia, where rescue teams started retrieving remains from the destroyed home of the Abu Nasr family. The house was hit in an Israeli airstrike on Oct. 29, 2024, when it was sheltering about 200 family members and displaced people. According to official estimates in Gaza, around 9,500 Palestinians remain missing under the rubble, as rescue teams struggle to reach them amid widespread destruction and a lack of heavy equipment. The campaign “marks the

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  21 Palestinians displaced when Israeli demolishes family home in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Twenty-one Palestinians were displaced Sunday after Israeli forces demolished their family home in the town of Jiyus, north of Qalqilya in the occupied West Bank, according to a Palestinian rights organization, Anadolu reports. Bedouin rights group Al-Baydar said the 160-square-meter (1,722-square-foot) house was demolished over the alleged lack of a building permit. The displaced family includes children and elderly members who were left without shelter following the demolition, it added. Israeli authorities prohibit construction or land reclamation in Area C of the West Bank without permits that Palestinians say are “nearly impossible” to obtain. According to the Colonization and Wall Resistance Commission, Israel carried out 59 demolition operations in January, targeting 126 Palestinian structures, including 77 inhabited homes. It also

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  Who fears the truth? The lawfare campaign to silence Francesca Albanese

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Francesca Albanese has become one of the most polarising figures in contemporary diplomacy, not because she commands armies or signs treaties, but because she insists on describing what she sees. Since assuming her mandate as United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories in 2023, the Italian jurist has delivered reports that cut through diplomatic euphemism with the precision of a scalpel.  In her October 2024 report to the General Assembly, pointedly titled Genocide as Colonial Erasure, she concluded there were ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe that Israel’s conduct in Gaza met the legal threshold of genocide and formed part of a ‘century-long project of eliminatory settler-colonialism’. Few phrases in international law carry such moral

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  Trump says Board of Peace members to pledge over $5B for Gaza reconstruction on Thursday

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Sunday that member states of the new Board of Peace will announce pledges exceeding $5 billion for Gaza reconstruction and thousands of personnel for a planned international stabilization force during a Thursday gathering in Washington, Anadolu reports. “On February 19th, 2026, I will again be joined by Board of Peace members at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., where we will announce that member states have pledged more than $5 billion dollars toward the Gaza humanitarian and reconstruction efforts,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Member states have also “committed thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and local police to maintain security and peace for Gazans,”

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  Palestine warns Israeli plan to register West Bank land as ‘state property’ amounts to ‘de facto annexation’

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The Palestinian Authority on Sunday warned that an Israeli government decision to register large areas of the West Bank as “state property” amounts to a “de facto annexation” of the occupied territory and a violation of international law, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the official news agency Wafa, the Authority said the Israeli move constitutes “a blatant violation of international law and international legitimacy resolutions” and poses a threat to security and stability. It described the measure as a “de facto annexation of occupied Palestinian land” and an official launch of annexation plans aimed at consolidating the occupation through illegal settlement expansion. It also constitutes “a termination of the signed agreements and clearly contradicts the resolutions of the

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  Iran’s top general warns new war will be ‘lesson’ for Trump ahead of next round of talks

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Iran’s top military commander warned Sunday that any US war against Tehran would serve as “a lesson” for President Donald Trump, as tensions continue to simmer in the region, Anadolu reports. Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, said that the US president should understand he would be entering “a lesson-giving battle.” Trump said on Friday that regime change in Iran “would be the best thing that could happen,” as tensions escalate amid the deployment of a second US aircraft carrier to the Middle East. He announced that the USS Gerald R. Ford, described as the world’s largest aircraft carrier, would soon head to the region in case ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran fail.

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  Increased US military presence in Middle East aims to defend forces: Rubio

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The US’ increased military presence in the Middle East is intended to defend American forces from potential threats rather than signal an imminent attack on Iran, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday, Anadolu reports. “We are postured in the region for one simple reason, and that is that we understand that there could be threats to our forces in the region,” Rubio told reporters alongside Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. Washington wants to ensure “sufficient capacity to defend them, if, God forbid, that were to happen,” he added. Asked whether the Trump administration would consult and inform Congress before attacking Iran or removing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Rubio said US President Donald Trump “prefers diplomacy and an outcome

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  Israel is trying to rewrite history – and British institutions risk helping them do it

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Israel is trying to rewrite ancient history. In Palestine, Israel has systematically destroyed ancient heritage and made colonial land grabs of archaeological sites like the ancient Palestinian town of Sebastia, near Nablus. Beyond Palestine, global institutions – including museums and universities – are at risk of aiding and abetting them in this rewriting project. Yesterday UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) announced that they had written to the British Museum to encourage them to remove references to ‘Palestine’ in the gallery panels and labels of their collections. I recognised UKLFI’s ideological mission immediately: they were trying to recruit the British Museum to their political project of erasing Palestinian history. The reason I could identify UKLFI’s project so quickly was that a

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  Israeli Knesset member storms Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East Jerusalem

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  An Israeli Knesset member forced his way into the courtyard of the Al-Asqa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on Sunday, a few days before the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, according to Israeli media. Amit Halevi, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party, performed Talmudic prayers at the flashpoint site, Channel 7 reported. “Jewish prayers on the Temple Mount (Al-Aqsa Mosque) should not be changed during the month of Ramadan,” Halevi said in a video recorded from inside the Al-Aqsa compound. The right-wing lawmaker said he plans to demand that Netanyahu and far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir maintain settler incursions during the afternoon hours in Ramadan. Since January, Israeli police, upon Ben-Gvir’s orders, have

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  Israeli government approves proposal to register West Bank lands as ‘state property’ for 1st time since 1967

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The Israeli government approved a proposal on Sunday to register large areas of the occupied West Bank as “state property,” for the first time since the Israeli occupation of the territory in 1967. The public broadcaster KAN said the proposal was submitted by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, and Defense Minister Israel Katz. “The initial goal is the gradual settlement of 15% of Area C by 2030,” Israel Hayom newspaper commented ahead of the government decision. Under the Oslo II Accord signed in 1995, Area A is under full Palestinian control, Area B is under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control, while Area C, accounting for about 61% of the West Bank, remains under full

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  Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh and the limits of Islamist electoral politics

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The recent electoral performance of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami has revived an old debate: are Islamists structurally incapable of winning national elections, or was Jamaat’s perceived rise a misreading of political reality? In the last couple of months during the election campaign, a number of national and international media outlets have portrayed Jamaat as a significant force in the upcoming general elections, bolstered by youth support through its student wing, Islami Chattra Shibir, which has gained influence among student leaders, achieved positive results in campus elections, and taken advantage of the political vacuum left by the Awami League. However, the results at the polling station presented a different picture. Was the hype misplaced? Or was it part of a broader narrative that

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  Italy to join Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as observer, Meloni confirms

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Italy will participate as an observer in the White House initiative of “Board of Peace,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni confirmed on Sunday, Anadolu reports. Speaking in an interview with Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Meloni said Italy had received an invitation to attend in observer status and would respond positively. “We were invited as an observer country, and in our view, it is a good solution regarding the problem of the war in the Middle East,” she said. She noted that constitutional constraints prevent Italy from formally joining the body but stressed that Rome still supports the initiative, describing the Middle East as “a priority,” demonstrated by Italy’s ongoing diplomatic engagement in the region. Meloni added that the level of

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  British Museum removes the word ‘Palestine’ from displays following pressure by pro-Israel lawyers

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The British Museum has removed the word Palestine from displays about the ancient Middle East following “concerns” by a UK-based Israeli advocacy group, Anadolu reports. The British Museum has confirmed that it is reviewing and updating some gallery panels and labels after “Audience testing has shown that the historic use of the term Palestine … is in some circumstances no longer meaningful,” UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) said in a statement on Saturday. The group claimed there were “historically inaccurate” references to Palestine in displays covering the ancient Levant and Egypt. It said applying a single name across thousands of years “erases historical changes and creates a false impression of continuity.” The statement said responding to the concerns, the British

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  Israeli president seeks clarifications from Netanyahu over Trump pardon broadside: Reports

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Israeli President Isaac Herzog is seeking clarifications from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over whether he incited US President Donald Trump to issue an “insult” amid controversy over a pardon request, local media said Sunday. On Thursday, Trump said that the Israeli president’s hitherto refusal to pardon Netanyahu of his corruption charges is “shameful,” a day after the US president met with Netanyahu at the White House. Herzog “is seeking clarifications from Netanyahu following sharp criticism directed at him by US President Trump,” the daily Yedioth Ahronoth said. The Israeli president “wants to know whether Netanyahu was behind the remarks, which officials described as a serious affront to Israel’s sovereign institutions,” it added. “If it emerges that Netanyahu encouraged Trump to

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  Syrian Army takes over Al-Shaddadi military base in Hasakah after coordination with US

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The Syrian Army has taken over the Al-Shaddadi military base in the countryside of Hasakah in northeastern Syria, following coordination with the US, the Defense Ministry said Sunday, Anadolu reports. The army assumed control of the base after coordination with the US side, the SANA news agency said, citing the ministry’s Media and Communications Directorate, without providing further details. The base is considered one of the most prominent strategic sites in the Syrian Jazira region, owing to its geographic location linking the governorates of Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor. The base had been under the control of the US-led international coalition against ISIS (Daesh) terror group since 2016, and was used as a main hub for managing operations and securing oil

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  The Gaza Technocratic Committee will fail. Why?

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  It is clear that the current situation in Gaza, and what is being planned for the post-war period, goes beyond temporary administrative arrangements. It is part of a broader path related to governance and future control in the Gaza Strip. Instead of the next phase helping to stop the violence, empower Palestinians, and improve living conditions, there are increasing signs of a direction that could turn local actors into symbolic figures rather than real decision-makers. In this context, the National Committee for Administration of Gaza (NCAG) was announced in January 2026 as a temporary Palestinian technocratic body to manage civilian services after the war. Although the idea may appear to organise daily life and begin recovery, the facts related to

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  Israeli army set to hold military drill near West Bank amid tensions with Iran

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The Israeli army is set to conduct a drill on Sunday near the occupied West Bank, amid escalating regional tensions with Iran, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the exercise will be held in Modi’in-Maccabim-Re’ut settlement, 30 kilometers west of East Jerusalem, without specifying its duration. “There will be active movement of security forces and vehicles in the area during the drill,” it added. Though the timing of the drill coincides with mounting tensions with Iran, the Israeli army said the exercise had been scheduled in advance as part of its 2026 annual plan. READ: Israel to deploy tear gas drones in West Bank ahead of Ramadan: Report The Israeli army carried out two separate drills Thursday, one on land in

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  US top diplomat says Trump prefers to reach deal with Iran

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that US President Donald Trump would prefer resolving issues with Iran through negotiated deals, Anadolu reports. “The president has said that his preference is to reach a deal with Iran. That’s very hard to do, but he’s going to try. And that’s what we’re trying to do right now,” Rubio said in an interview with Bloomberg. Stating that nation-states need to interact with one another, Rubio said he serves “under a president that’s willing to meet with anybody.” “I’m pretty confident in saying that if the Ayatollah (Ali Khamenei) said tomorrow he wanted to meet with President Trump, the president would meet him, not because he agrees with the Ayatollah, but because

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  US military used Anthropic’s AI model in operation to capture Venezuela’s Maduro: Report

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  The US military used Anthropic’s AI model Claude during the operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday. The report, citing anonymous sources, stated that Claude was used via Anthropic’s partnership with Palantir Technologies, a contractor for US defense and federal law enforcement agencies. Following the raid, an employee at Anthropic asked a counterpart at Palantir Technologies how Claude was used in the operation, according to the report. Anthropic became the first known AI developer whose technology was used in a classified operation by the US Department of Defense, though it remains unclear how the tool, capable of tasks from analyzing PDFs to guiding autonomous drones, was deployed. A spokesperson for Anthropic declined to comment

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  Canada says it will not restore diplomatic ties with Iran without regime change

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said Saturday that Ottawa will not open diplomatic relations with Tehran “unless there is regime change. Period,” Anadolu reports. “The repressive Iranian regime must curtail the consistent and illegal violation of Iranian human rights, including by respecting international law and international humanitarian law,” she told the Globe and Mail newspaper in an interview in Germany, where she is attending the Munich Security Conference. Anand also announced that Canada imposed additional sanctions on seven people who are “linked to Iranian state bodies responsible for intimidation, violence and transnational repression targeting Iranian dissidents and human rights defenders.” READ: Trump, Netanyahu agree to intensify economic pressure on Iran, targeting oil sales to China: Report Canada severed ties with Iran

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  Saudi foreign minister says Gaza ceasefire should pave way for 2-state solution

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan said Saturday that the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip should be used to advance the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within a two-state framework, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Farhan reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s support for initiatives aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the kingdom is acting out of the need to achieve peace. Farhan said the Gaza Peace Board established under the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, along with its 20-point framework, should first ensure an end to hostilities and then help advance the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination. He said the ceasefire should be used to restore stability, rebuild and take real steps toward Palestinian statehood

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  Trump, Netanyahu agree to intensify economic pressure on Iran, targeting oil sales to China: Report

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to step up economic pressure on Iran, particularly targeting its oil sales to China, Axios reported Saturday. The report, citing two American officials briefed on the issue, said the agreement occurred when Trump and Netanyahu met Wednesday at the White House. “We agreed that we will go full force with maximum pressure against Iran, for example, regarding Iranian oil sales to China,” according to a senior US official. But they differed on how to achieve that goal, with Netanyahu telling Trump that a reliable agreement with Iran is unattainable and would likely be violated, while Trump said he believes a deal is possible. READ: US, Iran set for 2rd round

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  Syria says talks with Israel aim to stop interference, not accept terms imposed by force in south

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Syria’s foreign minister said talks with Israel are aimed at ending Israeli interference and military actions in southern Syria, not at accepting a new reality imposed by force, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a panel discussion at the Munich Security Conference, Asaad al-Shaibani said Syria had adopted a “realistic path” towards Israel focused on reconstruction and national recovery following the Dec. 8, 2024 fall of the Assad regime. He said that since then, Syria has faced more than 1,000 Israeli airstrikes targeting civilian and military facilities, as well as ground incursions and new territorial advances in the south. Damascus chose diplomacy to address the situation and, with US support, brought Israel to direct negotiations, he added. “These negotiations will not lead

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  Israel to deploy tear gas drones in West Bank ahead of Ramadan: Report

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Israel’s National Guard is preparing to deploy drones equipped to fire tear gas at Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as part of security preparations for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Israeli Channel 12 reported Saturday. The police tenders committee approved the purchase of three drone-mounted systems designed to drop tear gas capsules, the channel said. The contract is valued at about $49,000. The systems, known as “Surprise Egg,” are designed to be mounted on Matrice-type drones and used to disperse demonstrations by releasing tear gas from the air, according to the report. Israeli police already operate 19 similar systems, Channel 12 said. Tender documents described the purchase as “urgent,” citing operational preparations “for expected events

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  Over 50,000 Israeli soldiers hold foreign citizenship: Report

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  More than 50,000 Israeli military personnel hold at least one additional foreign nationality, according to figures published Saturday by daily Yedioth Ahronoth based on official army data, Anadolu reports. The newspaper said the information was released in response to a freedom of information request filed by the transparency advocacy group Hatzlacha. Army data show that 50,632 soldiers have foreign citizenship alongside Israeli nationality. Of those, 12,135 hold US citizenship, the largest share by a significant margin, followed by 6,127 with French nationality and just over 5,000 with Russian citizenship. The figures also include more than 3,000 soldiers holding German nationality and a similar number with Ukrainian citizenship. Over 1,000 troops apiece hold British, Romanian, Polish, Ethiopian, and Canadian citizenship, while

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  Italy says remains committed to implement Gaza peace plan, reconstruction

  by MI on February 15, 2026

  Italy’s foreign minister on Saturday said Rome will continue its commitment to implement the Gaza peace plan and reconstruction of the Palestinian enclave also involving the Italian private sector, Anadolu Agency reports. Antonio Tajani attended a meeting together with European and regional partners on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany with the attendance of Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin. “The reconstruction of #Gaza was the focus of today’s meeting in #Munich,” he wrote on the US social media platform X. He said Italy is on the front line with a $60 million plan for humanitarian aid, demining activities, strengthening health and education facilities, renovating housing for displaced persons, and more broadly supporting Palestinian institutions. READ: Money, threats,

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  Objective fallacy: Eulogies on the passing of the law based international order

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  The eulogies are starting to wear thin.  The lamented passing of the rules and law-based order only makes sense to those who believed that such rules and laws existed in the first place.  How easy to forget that the spanning hegemon of each age always presumes that its laws and norms are objective universal features, putative and significant enough to be reverenced and inked for eternity.  That most irritating term “rules-based order” is more a stress on the order backed by might rather than the rules themselves, a figment of legal draughtsmanship.  Without a degree of might, there are no rules.  If there are those who refuse to abide by those rules, might will be brought to bear upon the

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  EuroPal and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign address unfinished business

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  In September 2025, the Scottish Parliament made history by endorsing a comprehensive package of Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel – the first national parliament to do so. Yet, as the May 2026 elections approach, there are growing fears that this landmark victory is being allowed to fade into a ‘symbolic’ gesture rather than becoming the catalyst for tangible change it was promised to be. On 12th February 2026, a webinar titled ‘Scotland’s 2026 Elections: Ensuring Palestine Is a Key Campaign Priority’ addressed this critical shift. Jointly organised by EuroPal Forum and the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign (SPSC), the session forensically analysed a ‘stalling of momentum’ that threatens to sideline the Palestinian struggle during the upcoming electoral cycle The

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  Iranian judiciary announces conditional release of several detained political activists

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Iran’s judiciary said Saturday several political activists, detained in recent weeks, have been conditionally released on bail pending the continuation of legal proceedings, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by Mehr News Agency, the judiciary said the releases came following the completion of initial investigations and after the detainees received formal warnings regarding “the nature of their actions and conduct.” The statement said the individuals were freed “on an appropriate bail order and on a conditional basis” until judicial proceedings are concluded. The judiciary added that in other cases involving detainees who had already received final court rulings, judicial sentences have been enforced, and those individuals are currently serving their prison terms. No further details were provided regarding the number

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  US, Iran set for 2rd round of nuclear talks in Geneva amid tensions: Report

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  The US and Iran are expected to hold a second round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva next Tuesday, according to US officials and sources, amid rising military tensions in the Gulf, Anadolu reports. Officials cited by US website Axios said on Friday that the talks, aimed at reaching an agreement that could avert escalation, are expected to include Donald Trump’s son-in-law and unofficial advisor Jared Kushner and White House Envoy Steve Witkoff on the US side, while Iran’s delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating between Washington and Tehran, is also set to participate. Behind the scenes, a US official said Witkoff relayed messages to Tehran through Oman earlier

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  Syria, Saudi Arabia agree on roadmap to boost rail, road connectivity

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Syrian Transport Minister Yarub Badr and his Saudi counterpart Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser agreed on a roadmap to enhance rail and road connectivity between the two countries, Anadolu reports. The agreement was reached during a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the second conference of Transport Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Türkiye, according to a statement by Syria’s Transport Ministry on Saturday. The statement said both sides agreed to “hold a technical meeting in Saudi Arabia for land transport cadres in March.” It added that discussions also covered existing cooperation between railway and highway teams in the two countries. The Syrian minister extended an invitation to his Saudi counterpart to visit Damascus to “crown the outcomes

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  Munich 2026 faces Gaza’s unanswered call for justice

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  At the Munich Security Conference 2026, beneath glittering chandeliers and tight security, diplomacy moved to script — until one question broke it. Dutch parliamentarian Kati Piri asked what many had whispered, but few had dared to say aloud: where is the accountability for Israel’s actions in Gaza? The room did not answer. The question lingered. Gaza now lies in ruins. More than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, the majority civilians, and well over half the population has been displaced. Entire neighbourhoods have been reduced to grey dust. Hospitals, universities, water systems and bakeries have been obliterated. The UN Commission of Inquiry concluded in September 2025 that Israel had committed acts amounting to genocide, citing evidence of

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  Workers halt production at Belgian arms factory over Israeli officer visit

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Some workers at Belgium’s major weapons manufacturer FN Herstal staged a spontaneous strike to protest the presence of an Israeli army officer who was part of a visiting delegation of defense attaches, Anadolu reports. The walkout took place on Friday afternoon at the factory in Herstal and was initiated by members linked to the socialist trade union FGTB, the company confirmed, according to Belgian outlet L-Post cited by regional media. Dyab Abou Jahjah, general director of the Brussels-based Hind Rajab Foundation, said on US social media company X that employees “stopped the machines and walked out after learning that an Israeli military officer had been received at the factory,” calling the action “a clear message” against arms-industry complicity during the

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  Syria foreign minister, ICC chief discuss holding Assad accountable in first meeting

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani met on Saturday International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane to discuss the issue of holding ousted leader Bashar al-Assad and figures of his erstwhile regime accountable, in the “first meeting of its kind” between the two sides, Anadolu reports. AlIkhbaria Syria TV, quoted an unnamed Foreign Ministry source as saying that al-Shaibani held a meeting with the ICC president on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The source said the meeting discussed “files related to transitional justice and ways to hold those responsible for crimes to account, foremost among them the criminal Bashar al-Assad and a number of figures of the defunct regime.” The source added that the meeting “is the first of its

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  Iranian president says regional countries can resolve issues together, rejects need for external guardianship

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Saturday that countries in the region are capable of resolving their problems collectively and peacefully, stressing that they do not need external guardianship, state news agency IRNA reported, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the international Iran Corridor 2026 conference in Tehran on investment opportunities and financing for rail and road corridors, Pezeshkian said: “We do not need a custodian. Regional countries can sit together and solve their problems.” Pezeshkian said the world has become “very small,” and that nations must work to create conditions for peace, security, and stability for present and future generations. “No country benefits from war,” he said, noting that conflict, violence, and bloodshed do not lead to progress. He praised efforts

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  Money, threats, abuse: Israeli efforts to block return to Gaza via Rafah

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  The journey home for Palestinians returning to the Gaza Strip through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt has turned into a path marked by interrogation, detention and humiliation – and, in some cases, financial inducements not to return or to cooperate with the Israeli army, according to returnee testimonies and human rights reports, Anadolu reports. On Wednesday, Gaza’s Government Media Office said only 488 travelers of 1,800 had been able to cross Rafah in both directions since its reopening through Tuesday — an Israeli compliance rate of about 27%. In a statement, the office said 275 people left Gaza while 213 entered, and 26 travelers were denied permission to leave for Egypt during the same period. Israel reopened the Palestinian

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  4 Palestinians injured by Israeli army gunfire across Gaza Strip despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Four Palestinians were injured on Saturday by Israeli army gunfire across the Gaza Strip amid daily Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, Anadolu reports. A young girl and an elderly man were wounded by Israeli gunfire east of Khan Younis, a medical source told Anadolu. Another young girl was shot in the head by Israeli army gunfire in the Netzarim area in the central Gaza Strip, a medical source said. In a separate incident, the medical source said a 60-year-old man was shot in the foot by Israeli army gunfire in Al-Mughraqa area south of Gaza City. Eyewitnesses said Israeli forces opened heavy, indiscriminate fire east of the city, before carrying out large-scale demolitions

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  Saving Halmahera Island in Indonesia from Israeli investment

  by Marwa A on February 14, 2026

  Despite cultivating a global reputation as a defender of Palestinian rights, Indonesia has approved a geothermal concession on Halmahera, a forested island in eastern Indonesia, involving a company embedded in Israel’s economic system. The decision carries two clear risks. It weakens Indonesia’s political position on Palestine and exposes a fragile environment to deeper industrial pressure. This is not only a foreign policy contradiction. It is a development choice with lasting ecological consequences. On January 8, 2026, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources awarded the Telaga Ranu geothermal working area to PT Ormat Geothermal Indonesia as part of the national push toward the Net Zero Emission 2060 target. Expanding renewable energy is necessary in a country still reliant on coal.

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  Lawsuit before the Constitutional Court in Germany against arms exports to Israel fails

  by Marwa A on February 13, 2026

  The Federal Constitutional Court, the highest Court in Germany, has spoken. That sentence is the centre of gravity. It signals judicial restraint. It confirms that the Federal Government retains broad discretion in determining how it complies with its constitutional duty to protect fundamental human rights, including in the sensitive area of arms exports contributing to a warfare that is deemed genocidal by the United Nations. This assessment is embedded in the legal framework governing German arms exports, including the relevant provisions of the War Weapons Control Act and the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, which define the procedural and substantive prerequisites for export authorizations and directly inform the court’s evaluation of the complainant’s standing. Beneath the formalism in its decision

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  Government dealt a blow: Highest court deems Palestine Action ban unlawful

  by Marwa A on February 13, 2026

  In a moment that exposed the flimsy nature of the government narrative, Keir Starmer’s government suffered a resounding blow from the UK Supreme Court after it struck down the decision to ban the activist group Pal Action and ruled it unlawful. This was not a mere procedural detail; it was a clear political indictment of a path that chose to criminalise the act of standing by and defending a victim. That same path chose also to shield the aggressor and oppressor. This is not a matter of competing narratives or conflicting claims. What is happening in Gaza is a crime of genocide, plain and simple. Palestinian blood is not and cannot be considered a matter of opinion, and those who

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  Israel bans established NGOs, installs ‘compliant’ politically convenient alternatives

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Israel is replacing dozens of established humanitarian organisations in Gaza with a new cohort of approved unknown groups that are more politically aligned and less likely to challenge Israeli conduct, an investigation by The New Humanitarian, has found. The report reveals that 37 aid organisations operating in Gaza — including nearly all established non-UN international NGOs — face bans under Israel’s new registration law after refusing to comply with its requirements. In their place, Israeli authorities have approved around two dozen organisations that have agreed to the new terms. Aid workers and legal experts cited in the investigation say the move is part of a broader effort to restructure the humanitarian landscape in Gaza. Internationally recognised reputable groups are being

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  Indonesia’s 8,000: Can stabilisation proceed without normalisation?

  by MI on February 13, 2026

  Gaza has become a scar on the conscience of the international system. With more than 72,000 Palestinians reported killed and over 1.9 million displaced at the height of the latest war, the strip stands as a symbol of immeasurable grief and diplomatic failure. In November 2025, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2803, backing a US-proposed plan and establishing a Board of Peace to oversee stabilisation, civilian protection, humanitarian relief and reconstruction. It is into this shattered and deeply contested landscape that Indonesia has stepped—measured, resolute, and anchored in principle. Jakarta’s decision to join the Board of Peace has been described by its Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Yvonne Mewengkang, in precise terms: participation is not a normalisation of political relations with