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

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  Israel detains 1,800 Palestinian children since Gaza war began

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The Palestine Centre for Prisoners’ Studies has reported a sharp rise in the detention and abuse of Palestinian children since the outbreak of the war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, documenting more than 1,800 arrests of minors, including some as young as 10. In a recent report, the centre said these arrests are not random but part of a systematic policy targeting Palestinian children, within a broader escalation of repression. It added that tens of thousands of children have been detained since the beginning of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The report noted a significant increase in violations since the start of the war, with harsher forms of abuse and torture against children. It highlighted serious practices

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  Putin says Russia will support Iran and regional stability to ensure Middle East peace

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow will continue strengthening its strategic relationship with Iran and “do everything necessary” to support stability and peace across the Middle East. Speaking during talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in St. Petersburg, Putin said he had recently received a message from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. “I would like to ask you to convey my sincere thanks and appreciation,” Putin said, adding that Russia intends to maintain and develop its strategic ties with Tehran. READ: US extends sanctions waivers on Iran, Russia He said the Iranian people are “fighting bravely and heroically for their sovereignty” and expressed hope they would overcome current challenges, with peace prevailing in the country. Putin stressed that Russia

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  Report: Vance blocked alleged Mossad plan involving Kurdish escalation against Iran

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  US Vice President J. D. Vance rejected a proposal attributed to Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad aimed at toppling the leadership in Iran, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported. According to the report, the plan—linked to Mossad chief David Barnea—outlined a multi-stage approach beginning with the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior figures, followed by installing an alternative leadership aligned with Israeli interests. The newspaper said a subsequent phase envisioned backing Kurdish movements to advance into Iran, alongside expectations of widespread internal protests. READ: Bahrain revokes citizenship of 69 people over “glorifying” Iranian attacks The report added that Vance, along with senior White House officials, opposed the proposal despite what it described as initial approval by former US President Donald

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  Bahrain revokes citizenship of 69 people over “glorifying” Iranian attacks

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  Bahrain has stripped 69 individuals of their citizenship over what authorities described as “glorifying Iranian hostile acts”, following attacks launched by Iran during the recent war in the Gulf. In a statement, the Bahraini Ministry of Interior said the decision targeted those who expressed support for Iranian attacks or were involved in espionage with foreign entities. It added that the total number affected, including family members, had reached 69. Authorities said the move was taken under royal directives and in accordance with the country’s nationality law, which allows citizenship to be revoked in cases deemed harmful to the interests of the state or contrary to the duty of loyalty. The statement included the names of those affected, noting they are

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  Palestinian Media Forum welcomes broadcaster boycott of Eurovision over Gaza war

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The Palestinian Media Forum has praised international broadcasters that have chosen to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest, describing the move as a stand “with truth and humanity” amid Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Forum welcomed steps taken by broadcasters in Ireland and Slovenia, saying their actions challenge efforts to use the contest to divert attention from events in Gaza. The Forum highlighted the decision by Ireland’s national broadcaster to fully boycott Eurovision and refrain from airing the event, calling it a “firm political and ethical message” reflecting public opposition to what it described as the use of cultural platforms to obscure Israeli actions. It also commended Radiotelevizija Slovenija for announcing it would replace Eurovision programming

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  Advocacy group says Gaza faces “slow genocide” as famine deepens under Israeli restrictions

  by MI on April 28, 2026

  The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights has said Israel is carrying out a “slow genocide” in Gaza Strip, warning that famine continues to spread as humanitarian access remains severely limited. Speaking in a televised interview, the commission’s head, Salah Abdel-Aati, said the situation has deteriorated sharply, with aid entering Gaza over the past six months not exceeding 40 per cent of residents’ needs. “Famine continues to take hold in the Strip,” he said. Abdel-Aati added that Israeli actions have included violations of the ceasefire and the targeting of civilians, stating that 823 people have been killed over the past six months, most of them women and children, with a further 2,280 reported injured. READ: Global Sumud flotilla sets sail from

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  Israeli defense minister threatens Lebanon with ‘fire that will burn entire country’

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz on Monday threatened Lebanon with “fire that will burn the entire country,” two days after Prime Minister ordered military escalation against Beirut, Anadolu reports. “(Hezbollah chief) Naim Qassem is playing with fire, and the fire will burn Hezbollah and all of Lebanon,” Katz said during a meeting with UN envoy to Lebanon Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, as cited in a statement issued by his office. The Israeli minister claimed that the Lebanese government “continues to take cover” under the Hezbollah wing. “Fire will break out and engulf the cedars of Lebanon,” Katz warned. He alleged that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was “gambling with the future of Lebanon”, adding that Israel would not accept a situation in which

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  Libya, Greece discuss maritime border demarcation, irregular migration

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  The Libyan foreign minister in the Tripoli-based government, Taher Al-Baour, held talks Monday with his Greek counterpart, Giorgos Gerapetritis, to disuss maritime border demarcation and bilateral relations, Anadolu reports. Discussions in the Libyan capital dwelt on avenues to expand cooperation in strategic sectors, including energy, infrastructure, and maritime transport, Libya’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The two diplomats also discussed irregular migration, stressing the need for a comprehensive approach based on burden-sharing, enhanced security, technical cooperation, and increased training programs, the statement said. READ: More than 7,600 migrants died or went missing in 2025, UN agency says The talks between the two sides also took up the work of the joint Libyan-Greek technical committee on maritime border demarcation, with the

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  UN reports ‘one of highest volumes’ of Israeli firing incidents south of Blue Line in Lebanon

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  The UN on Monday reported 299 incidents of firing originating from Israeli forces south of the Blue Line in Lebanon, marking “one of the highest volumes” recorded since a ceasefire took effect on April 17, Anadolu reports. Pointing to the Israeli forces’ area of operation, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said during a news conference that “yesterday, our peacekeepers reported 299 firing incidents originating from south of the Blue Line,” noting that the incident represents “one of the highest volumes since the cessation of hostilities.” Dujarric noted that no rockets were detected traveling from north to south, though UN peacekeepers in Lebanon (UNIFIL) observed one projectile interception by Israeli forces. UN peacekeeping forces also reported clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah.

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  Israel bans 2 prominent Palestinian preachers from Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque for 1 week

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Israeli authorities on Monday banned two prominent Palestinian preachers from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem for one week, Anadolu reports. In statements, Sheikh Raed Salah and Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib said they were summoned for questioning by Israeli authorities and were handed a one-week ban order from the mosque. “We received an order preventing us from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque,” Salah told reporters. “When asked about our response, we said that Al-Aqsa is a purely Islamic right and we have the right to be there,” he said, denouncing the Israeli ban as “invalid” and “unjust.” Salah called the Israeli ban “an assault on our religion” and “religious persecution,” stressing that the Islamic Waqf in Jerusalem has the sole authority

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  Germany: Pro-Palestinian groups show solidarity with detained activists

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators rallied Monday outside a Stuttgart prison in solidarity with five activists facing trial for storming an Israeli arms factory to protest what they described as the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Dozens gathered outside Stammheim Prison, carrying banners that read “From Ulm to Gaza – Freedom for all political prisoners” and “Free the Ulm 5 – Shut Elbit down.” They were protesting the activists’ continued pretrial detention, months after their September 2025 arrest. The trial in Stuttgart marked the first hearing for the group known as the Ulm 5, five activists aged 25 to 40 who hold Irish, British, Spanish, and German citizenship. READ: Germany’s Merz says US has ‘no exit strategy’ in Iran war, calls Tehran

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  Trump meets national security team to discuss Iran’s proposal: White House

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  US President Donald Trump met with his national security team on Monday to discuss Iran’s latest proposal, the White House said, Anadolu reports. “I will confirm the president has met with his national security team this morning … the proposal was being discussed,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters during a briefing. “I don’t want to get ahead of the president or his national security team. What I will reiterate is that the president’s red lines with respect to Iran have been made very, very clear, not just to the American public, but also to them as well,” she added. Her remarks came amid growing diplomatic efforts to revive talks between Washington and Tehran following weeks of war

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  UK-based group urges sanctions on 62 Israeli lawmakers over death penalty bill

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  A UK-based advocacy group has urged the British government to impose sanctions on 62 Israeli lawmakers over legislation introducing the death penalty for certain offenses, Anadolu reports. The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) said Monday it submitted recommendations to the Foreign Office targeting the parliamentarians over alleged responsibility for serious human rights violations. In its submission, the group argued that lawmakers’ support for the legislation could breach international law, citing concerns over the right to life and protections against cruel or degrading treatment. It called for sanctions under existing UK frameworks, including the Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2018. “The new penal law which exclusively and purposefully targets Palestinians, marks an extreme escalation in Israel’s genocidal policies against

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  US secretary of state says Iran ‘serious’ about deal

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Iran is “serious” about reaching a deal with the US, but any agreement must prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Monday, Anadolu reports. “I think they’re are serious about getting themselves out of the mess that they’re in,” Rubio said in an interview with Fox News. He pointed to Iran’s worsening economic conditions, including inflation, difficulties paying wages, as well as ongoing sanctions, saying: “All the problems that Iran had before the start of this conflict are still in place, and most of them are worse.” “We have to ensure that any deal that is made … definitively prevents them from sprinting towards a nuclear weapon at any point,” he added. Rubio’s

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  The US-Israel war on Iran: Objectives, strategy, and escalation management

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  ‘States tend to overestimate themselves or the benefits and swiftness of war, and to underestimate their opponents’ capabilities, intentions, or the costs and duration of war.’ If anything, the 2026 war initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran shall be remembered in the annals of warfare among the most visible manifestations of this dynamic.  The war, immediately preceded by the January mass protests in Iran, did not represent a sudden rupture but rather the continuation of a 47-year-long confrontation and a more intense phase of the June 2025 war.  The US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, defined the war’s objectives as being laser-focused: to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities and its security infrastructure, while ensuring that it could never

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  UN chief urges immediate reopening of Strait of Hormuz amid global trade crisis

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday urged the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz amid stalled US-Iran peace talks, Anadolu reports. “I appeal to the parties: Open the Strait. Let ships pass. No tolls. No discrimination. Let trade resume. Let the global economy breathe,” Guterres said at a high-level UN Security Council debate on maritime security. The Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas flows—has faced major disruptions since early March after the US and Israel launched a joint offensive against Iran on Feb. 28. The war is currently on a halt and efforts to end it permanently are underway. “Since early March, the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has struck

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  Israel withholds Palestinian clearance funds again, deducts $200 million

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Israel decided Monday to withhold clearance funds to the Palestinian Authority, and deducted around $200 million this month, worsening a financial crisis facing the Ramallah-based authority, Anadolu reports. A statement from Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s office claimed that most of the tax revenues collected by Israel on behalf of the Palestinian Authority this month were deducted to settle outstanding bills. “Out of a total of more than 740 million shekels ($248 million) collected this month, extensive deductions totaling approximately 590 million shekels ($197.7 million) were made,” the statement said. “These funds were redirected to cover the Palestinian Authority’s accumulated debts to the Israel Electric Corporation, water utilities, and environmental bodies,” it added. According to the statement, the remaining balance

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  Germany’s Merz says US has ‘no exit strategy’ in Iran war, calls Tehran ‘skilled negotiator’

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday criticized the US for lacking an “exit strategy” in the Iran war, while saying the Iranians are “very skilled” negotiators, Anadolu reports. “The problem with such conflicts is always this: You don’t just have to get in; you also have to get out. We saw that very painfully in Afghanistan, for 20 years. We saw it in Iraq,” Merz said during a discussion with high school students in the western town of Marsberg. The US “clearly went into this war in Iran without any strategy at all,” German Press Agency DPA quoted the chancellor as saying, adding that this is why it is all the more difficult to end the conflict now. Merz said

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  Germany calls on UN to take responsibility for settling Iran conflict

  by MI on April 27, 2026

  Germany’s foreign minister on Monday urged the UN to play a more active role in resolving the conflict involving Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, warning the situation is affecting the global economy, Anadolu reports. “To resolve pressing issues of peace and security, the United Nations must become the linchpin of contemporary conflict diplomacy,” Johann Wadephul said before departing for New York to attend a UN Security Council meeting. He criticized several Security Council members for blocking decisions and said the international community cannot afford such obstruction while facing multiple major conflicts simultaneously. The top diplomat warned that Iran’s blockade of Strait of Hormuz is having a serious impact on global economy, particularly affecting poor countries and putting the

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  Pakistan’s pageant, Washington’s whim, Iran’s refusal

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  There is something almost admirable — artistically, if not morally — about a “breakthrough” engineered to last precisely as long as a news cycle and not a second more. It appears, it trends, it reassures, and then, like a stage prop after curtain call, it quietly disappears. In Islamabad, diplomacy has not failed; it has been rebranded as entertainment. A Field Marshal performs statesmanship with theatrical zeal, a prime minister delivers his lines with the solemnity of a man who knows improvisation is not in his job description, and in Washington, Donald Trump directs the whole production like a conductor who has misplaced both the score and the orchestra. Iran, inconveniently, declines to applaud. Let us retire the comforting myth

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  Bennett and Lapid merge parties to unseat Netanyahu

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Former Israeli prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, both advocates of settlement expansion and Greater Israel,  announced on Sunday the merger of their parties into a single electoral list, named Beyahad — Hebrew for “together” — to be led by Bennett at the 2026 election. The move is being presented as the consolidation of an opposition “reform bloc” capable of unseating Israel’s longest serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. In a lengthy post on X, Bennett framed the merger as “the most Zionist and patriotic action we’ve ever taken” and declared: “The era of division is over. The era of repair has arrived.” אחיי ואחיותיי, רגעים גורליים דורשים צעדים נועזים. וזה מה שאנחנו עושים עכשיו. אני שמח לבשר לכם שאני

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  US bill to grant Americans serving in Israeli army same rights as US troops

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  US lawmakers push to grant American soldiers serving in the Israeli army the same legal protections as US troops, in a move without precedent for any other foreign army. The bill would place some 20,000 dual citizens fighting for Israel on a legal par with Americans serving the US. Details of the Israel first carve out was reported in Military.com. The legislation passing through Congress would, for the first time in American history, treat service in a foreign army as legally equivalent to service in the US armed forces — but only where that foreign army is Israeli occupation army. House Resolution 8445, tabled by Republican Congressmen Guy Reschenthaler of Pennsylvania and Max Miller of Ohio, would amend Title 38

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  Hormuz is the war’s invoice—and Washington can’t pay it

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

   What Washington Missed? Closing the Strait of Hormuz is not a side detail. It is the main pressure point. Every day the strait stays shut adds a new layer of cost to the global economy; and the shock travels back to the United States fast. This is not only about the price of oil. It is about a supply-chain squeeze: shipping insurance, freight costs, industrial inputs, petrochemicals, raw materials. Then inflation that lands on American consumers like a delayed war tax. Washington’s mistake was deeper than one bad assumption. It believed military force alone can break political will, that markets will “adjust” on their own, and that a crisis can be managed through statements and threats the way you manage

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  Netanyahu scales back Meron celebration over Hezbollah security threat

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  The Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has ordered a reduction in the annual commemoration of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai in the northern town of Meron, with this year’s event to be held in a symbolic format instead of the usual large-scale gatherings. According to official directives, the decision comes amid security assessments pointing to heightened risks linked to tensions on the northern front with Hezbollah. Reports indicate that the move is driven by concerns over potential heavy casualties if mass gatherings were allowed, given the fragility of the ceasefire with Lebanon, the site’s proximity to the border, and intermittent rocket fire in the area. Sources also noted the difficulty of carrying out large-scale and rapid evacuations in the event of

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  IRGC commander warns US and Israel of “stronger response” to any new attack

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  A senior commander in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has warned that any new attack on the country would be met with a stronger response, amid escalating regional tensions. Mohammad Jafar Asadi said Iran “is not Venezuela to have its resources plundered”, stressing that Tehran would respond forcefully to any further military action. Speaking to journalists, Asadi added that the United States and Israel are attempting to exert pressure over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, but insisted that this “will not happen”. “We tell the Americans that Iran is not Venezuela for you to plunder its resources. If you launch a new attack, you will receive a stronger blow, and the Iranian state and people will stand against

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  Top diplomats of Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia discuss efforts for ceasefire with US

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate talks over the phone on Sunday with his Qatari and Saudi counterparts, Anadolu Agency reported. Iran’s state television said Araghchi’s talks with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman and Prince Faisal bin Farhan dwelt on regional developments and diplomatic efforts to establish a ceasefire between Tehran and Washington. During the contacts, Araghchi briefed the two ministers on Iran’s diplomatic initiatives to end the war and reduce tension and addressed challenges hindering a permanent ceasefire. The broadcaster said the three parties emphasized the importance of regional countries playing a constructive role in crisis management and stressed the need to maintain communication to support peace efforts and promote stability. Sheikh Mohammed, for his part, affirmed Qatar’s readiness

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  Israeli media report casualties among soldiers in southern Lebanon attack

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Israeli media outlets reported on Sunday that a number of Israeli soldiers were killed and wounded in an attack targeting a military force in southern Lebanon using an explosive-laden drone. The reports described the incident as “difficult”, confirming that injured soldiers were evacuated to Ziv Medical Center and Rambam Health Care Campus for treatment. For its part, the Lebanese Hezbollah group said it had targeted a group of Israeli soldiers in the southern town of Taybeh with an explosive-laden drone on Sunday morning, stating that the strike resulted in confirmed casualties. The group added that it later targeted an Israeli evacuation force in the same area with another drone, reporting a direct hit. The developments come amid continued exchanges of

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  Israeli Supreme Court orders sanctions against draft evaders

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  The Supreme Court of Israel has ruled that the government must impose criminal and economic sanctions on individuals who evade military conscription, criticising authorities for failing to implement a previous decision on drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews. In its ruling issued on Sunday, the court said the government had not acted on an earlier judgement “based on clear and unequivocal legal texts”, stressing the need for immediate executive measures to enforce the decision. Judges instructed the government to report back on implementation by the beginning of June. The court detailed a series of penalties for draft evaders, including the loss of benefits such as housing purchase exemptions, state subsidies for nurseries and kindergartens, and discounts on public transport and municipal taxes. Judges

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  Report: Israel deployed Iron Dome in UAE during war with Iran

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Israel deployed its Iron Dome missile defence system to the United Arab Emirates, along with dozens of soldiers to operate it, during the early stages of the war with Iran, according to a media report highlighting deepening military coordination between the two countries. The Axios cited two Israeli officials and one US official as saying the decision followed a phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Netanyahu subsequently instructed the military to deploy an air defence battery, including interceptor missiles and operational crews. According to the report, this marks the first time the Iron Dome system has been deployed outside Israel. A senior Israeli official said the UAE is the first

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  European rejection of emergency aid deepens Palestinian Authority financial crisis

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  The refusal by the European Union and donor countries to approve €300 million in emergency funding for the Palestinian Authority has further intensified its financial crisis, amid a severe liquidity shortage affecting government operations. The request, presented during a recent donors’ meeting in Brussels, did not receive backing from EU member states or participating donors, according to informed sources. Officials maintained that the bloc has already provided unprecedented levels of financial support. A €1.6 billion assistance package covering the period 2025–2027 has already been approved, with any additional funding requiring unanimous consent from all 27 EU member states. Sources indicated that donors increasingly believe further financial support would not resolve the underlying crisis, particularly as Israel continues to withhold Palestinian

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  Iran demands end to Lebanon fighting as condition to continue negotiations

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Tehran has set out its demands within the framework of ongoing negotiations with the United States. Al Mayadeen reported that “Iran has presented mediators with a three-phase negotiation framework, with talks set to resume if the United States agrees to it.” The first phase focuses on ending the war and securing guarantees that it will not resume against Iran or Lebanon. Tehran will not discuss any additional issues at this stage. The channel added that “If an agreement is reached, negotiations would move to a second phase addressing the management of the Strait of Hormuz, including coordination with Oman to establish a new legal framework.” It further noted that “A third phase would then tackle the nuclear issue, which Iran

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  What a president, a movie star, a congressman, and a cell phone all dared to say

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Richard Nixon was not a man given to moral clarity. But in the privacy of the Oval Office, away from the choreography of statecraft, he spoke with a bluntness that history rarely forgives and seldom forge “Let me explain something about the Jewish lobby in this country. They believe that being for Israel first does not mean that you’re putting America second. But an American president”, he insisted, “has to approach it differently. He’s always got to think first of what is best for America. An American president must make a decision that does not, in effect, give the Israelis a blank check”. Nixon went further. “Every Jewish prime minister that I have known has enlisted American Jews to bring

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  Herzog seeks mediation to end Netanyahu trial, not pardon

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  The Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, does not intend to grant a pardon to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but will instead seek to begin a mediation process aimed at reaching a deal between prosecutors and Netanyahu, under which he would admit to the charges against him. Herzog is said to believe there are several options beyond granting or refusing a pardon. He views his main role as strengthening unity in Israeli society, which has been divided over Netanyahu’s corruption trial. He prefers resolving the issue through negotiations, according to The New York Times, citing two Israeli senior officials familiar with his position. In a statement issued by the Israeli presidency following the report, Herzog’s office said: “President Isaac Herzog has stated

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  14 killed, including 2 children, in Israeli strikes on south Lebanon

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre said on Sunday that Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon killed 14 people, including two children and two women, and wounded 37 others, among them three women. In a statement, the centre said the toll relates to strikes carried out on 26 April, without giving further details on the locations targeted. The Israeli army continues to carry out systematic demolition and destruction operations affecting dozens of towns and villages in southern Lebanon, as part of a “scorched earth” policy aimed at establishing a buffer zone to prevent more than one million displaced Lebanese from returning to their homes. The ongoing Israeli plan relies on a strategy of widespread destruction of vital infrastructure and basic

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  Global Sumud flotilla sets sail from Sicily to break Gaza blockade

  by Marwa A on April 27, 2026

  Boats from the Global Sumud Flotilla set sail on Sunday from the Italian island of Sicily as part of the 2026 Spring Mission, in a move aimed at breaking the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip and delivering humanitarian aid to its residents. The flotilla’s vessels had departed from Barcelona on 12 April before arriving in Sicily on 23 April, where they were joined by additional boats and activists from Italy via the cities of Syracuse and Augusta. The number of participating boats rose to 65 at Augusta Yacht Harbour before completing the necessary departure procedures. The boats then sailed gradually across the Mediterranean Sea according to a set organisational plan. At sea, a ship belonging to Greenpeace joined the

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  War…Netanyahu’s perfect definition of himself. So who will define him by peace?

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  When speaking about Israel today, it is easy to borrow the irony of British writer and historian Max Hastings, who has witnessed and chronicled many wars. Just as he once mocked America’s appetite for conflict by asking, ‘What if they started a war and nobody came?’, we may now invert the question for Israel: What if Benjamin Netanyahu woke up one day and found no wars left to start? Hastings, who documented the failures of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan before Washington even reached its failure in Iran, possessed a sharp political instinct. Since his emergence in the mid-1990s, Netanyahu has possessed only one instinct: war as destiny and hostility as identity. One dark night in October 1995,

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  Over 2,500 killed in Lebanon in Israeli attacks since March 2

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  Lebanon said Sunday that 13 people have been killed and 30 more injured in the past 24 hours, Anadolu reports. The death toll from Israeli attacks in Lebanon surged to 2,509 killed and 7,755 injured since March 2, said the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israel has pounded Lebanon with airstrikes and launched a ground offensive in the south since a cross-border attack by Hezbollah on March 2. The region has been on alert since the US and Israel launched airstrikes on Iran on Feb. 28. A 10-day truce was first announced on April 16 but was repeatedly breached by Israel. On Thursday, US President Donald Trump said Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend their ceasefire by three weeks following a second

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  Sheikh Jarrah: How ceasefires enable Israel’s quiet annexation

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  On 20 April 2026 the Jerusalem District Planning Committee approved an 11-storey ultra-Orthodox Jewish religious school known as Or Somayach, or the Glassman Yeshiva, in the heart of Sheikh Jarrah. The project will rise on five dunams of land at the southern entrance to the neighbourhood, directly opposite Sheikh Jarrah Mosque. It includes dormitories for hundreds of students and residential units for teaching staff. Palestinian officials immediately condemned the move, saying it deliberately exploits the current regional distractions. While fragile ceasefires hold in Gaza and Lebanon and attention shifts to Iran, Israel is pressing ahead with its settler-colonial project in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. This latest step in Sheikh Jarrah is no isolated event. It is part

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  What if the West has been misreading Iran for 40 years?

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  The enduring temptation in Western strategic thinking is to treat Iran as a problem to be managed rather than a civilisation to be understood. That misreading has proven costly. Beneath the daily churn of sanctions, proxy skirmishes, and nuclear brinkmanship lies a far deeper story—one of continuity, identity, and power that predates the modern state system by millennia. Iran is not merely a Middle Eastern actor reacting to pressure; it is an inheritor of Persian statecraft that has survived conquest, revolution and isolation, and has repeatedly adapted its instruments of influence to shifting global orders. From the Achaemenid Empire in the sixth century BCE—stretching from the Indus Valley to the Balkans and governing an estimated 44 per cent of the

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  Southern Lebanon witnesses widespread displacement due to Israeli strikes after Netanyahu’s escalation order

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  Southern Lebanon witnessed widespread displacement on Sunday following extensive Israeli airstrikes, a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered a military escalation against the country, Anadolu reports. Lebanon’s state news agency NNA reported that Israeli strikes targeted the towns of Zawtar, Maidafoun, and Yohmor al-Shaqif, while artillery shelling hit areas between Deir Seryan and Yohmor. Israeli warplanes also carried out raids on the outskirts of Shaaitiyeh, while another strike hit a house in the town of Qalileh in the Tyre district. The news agency added that Israeli forces carried out a large-scale demolition drive in the town of Khiam, alongside powerful explosions reported in the town of Taybeh. Israeli fighter jets were also seen flying over the capital, Beirut, according

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  Power, justice, and the decolonization of the global order

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  The end of the unipolar illusion Three decades after the end of the Cold War, the global order that emerged in its aftermath is visibly fraying. What was once proclaimed as a stable “rules-based international system” dominated by the United States and its Western allies now appears fragile, contested, and morally compromised. The unipolar moment that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union was widely interpreted as the final triumph of liberal capitalism. Yet history has rarely been so obedient to ideological declarations. The ongoing confrontation involving Iran and the United States has brought this crisis into sharp relief. Recent events demonstrate that power in the twenty-first century is no longer defined solely by military supremacy, but by the capacity

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  War in Lebanon carries huge political cost, with no military solution to Hezbollah missiles: Israeli media

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  The war in Lebanon carries huge political costs for Israel, while there is no military solution to Hezbollah’s missiles in the north, the Israel Hayom newspaper reported Saturday, citing a senior official, Anadolu reports. The official said that despite criticism about the ceasefire with Hezbollah announced Saturday, halting the fighting remains the only way to stop rocket and missile fire on northern Israeli towns. The report said the Israeli Cabinet had never instructed the army to eliminate Hezbollah’s military power, noting that dismantling Hezbollah remains a broader objective but was not defined as one to be achieved solely through military means. The official acknowledged that targeted assassinations and other military operations may weaken Hezbollah, but cannot completely stop the group’s

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  ‘Don’t think so’: Trump says when asked if shooting could have been linked to Iran war

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Saturday that an officer was shot in an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner in Washington, DC, Anadolu reports. “One officer was shot, but saved by the fact that he was wearing a obviously, a very good bulletproof vest. “He was shot from very close distance with a very powerful gun, and the vest did the job. I just spoke to the officer, and he’s doing great. He’s in great shape,” Trump said at a news conference. His remarks came after the president and first lady, Melania Trump, were evacuated from the annual event at the Washington Hilton after a security-related incident. The president said the incident highlights the need for the White House

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  New wave of Israeli strikes kill 4 Palestinians in Gaza

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  Four Palestinians, including a child, were killed early Sunday in a new wave of Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip despite an ongoing ceasefire, medical sources told Anadolu. The bodies of two Palestinians were brought to Al-Shifa Medical Complex after an Israeli drone strike targeted a motorcycle near Kuwait Roundabout on Salah al-Din Street, southeast of Gaza City, Anadolu reports. The sources added that a third Palestinian was killed by Israeli army gunfire in the Al-Mughraqa area in central Gaza, while a 14-year-old teenager later died from injuries he had suffered in an Israeli strike in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, north of Gaza City, Saturday evening. Israel also shelled areas east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, witnesses

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  Supply shortage fears push UK to ramp up contingency planning over Iran war

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  Britain is “dialing up” efforts to shield households from the economic fallout of the Iran war, a senior minister said, as officials warned that higher prices could persist for months even after the conflict ends, Anadolu reports. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones said the government was stepping up contingency planning amid concerns that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments, could disrupt supplies. “We’re acting now to prepare for, and mitigate where possible, the impact on our economy and domestic security as a result of the conflict,” Jones said, according to Sky News. Ministers have stressed there are currently no fuel shortages and urged the public to continue normal

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  Syria holds public trial for Assad’s cousin over crimes against civilians

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  Atef Najib, a cousin of ousted President Bashar al-Assad and former political security chief in Syria’s Daraa city, appeared on Sunday before the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus, Al-Ikhbariya television reported, Anadolu reports. The outlet broadcast video footage showing Najib in the defendant’s cage, after he had been brought to the court in the Syrian capital. “The first trials of transitional justice in Syria include a detainee (Atef Najib) and defendants who are fugitives from justice,” the channel quoted an unnamed judge in the court as saying. Among those fugitives were Assad, his brother and commander of the notorious Fourth Division Maher Assad , former Defense Minister Fahd Jassem al-Freij, former military intelligence chief in Daraa Laith al-Ali, and former

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  Indonesia–Saudi power play: Why ACWA–Danantara must move beyond the MoU

  by Marwa A on April 26, 2026

  When ACWA Power and Danantara signed a $10 billion agreement in Jeddah, it marked more than a bilateral milestone. It signaled growing confidence among Gulf investors that their capital, expertise, and project models can scale beyond the Middle East. The scope is undeniably ambitious, spanning renewable energy, combined-cycle gas, green hydrogen, and water desalination—areas where ACWA Power has built a strong global reputation as a developer and operator. But ambition is not execution, and execution is where this partnership will ultimately be judged. By definition, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) is a framework. It expresses intent to explore investments, not a binding commitment to build them. This distinction is critical. Across emerging markets, many large-scale infrastructure partnerships stall at precisely

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  Iran shared with Pakistan ‘workable framework’ to permanently end US war: Foreign minister

  by MI on April 25, 2026

  Iran has shared a “workable framework” with Pakistan aimed at permanently ending the US war, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday, Anadolu reports. In a post on the US social media company X following a visit to Pakistan, Araghchi said discussions focused on efforts to restore stability in the region and end the conflict. “We shared Iran’s position concerning a workable framework to permanently end the war on Iran,” he said, without providing further details. Araghchi described the trip as “very fruitful,” praising Pakistan’s role in facilitating dialogue and its “brotherly efforts” to help bring peace back to the region. He also expressed skepticism about Washington’s intentions. “Have yet to see if the U.S. is truly serious about diplomacy,”

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  Over 2,490 killed in Lebanon in Israeli attacks since March 2

  by MI on April 25, 2026

  Lebanon said Saturday that five people were killed and six others wounded over the past 24 hours, raising the death toll from Israeli attacks to 2,496 killed and 7,725 injured since March 2, Anadolu reports. The figures were published in a report by the Lebanese Cabinet’s Disaster Risk Management Unit, as reported by the National News Agency (NAA). The update comes as Israel continues to violate a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon that began on April 17. The previous official toll stood at 2,491 killed and 7,719 injured, in addition to more than 1 million displaced, before the updated figures were released. READ: UK, Finland condemn ‘unacceptable’ Israeli attacks on journalists in Lebanon The unit did not provide further details on how

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  American journalist Tucker Carlson feels ‘betrayed,’ criticizes Trump on Iran war: Report

  by MI on April 25, 2026

  Political commentator and former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said he feels “betrayed,” criticizing US President Donald Trump’s Iran war, Anadolu reports. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Carlson said, “I don’t hate Trump. I hate this war and the direction that the US government is taking,” adding that “I feel betrayed.” The report said that Carlson has opposed the Jan. 3 US operation on Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolas Maduro, adding that he is now “the most prominent opponent of the Iran war” initiated by the US and Israeli strikes against Iran that began on Feb. 28. READ: Tucker Carlson claims CIA read his messages, says US preparing foreign agent case against him “Why