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

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  Egypt denies claims of allowing Ethiopia Red Sea access for Nile dam concessions

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  Egypt on Tuesday evening denied reports claiming it was prepared to grant Ethiopia maritime access to the Red Sea in return for flexibility from Addis Ababa over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a long-running source of tension between the two countries. According to Egypt’s state news agency, Middle East News Agency, an official source categorically rejected circulating “reports that Egypt is ready to grant Ethiopia maritime access to the Red Sea in exchange for Ethiopian flexibility regarding the dam”. The source stressed that “such reports are entirely baseless and unfounded.”  He reaffirmed that “Egypt’s stance on water security and the GERD remains firm and unchanged.”  READ: Egypt calls for cooperation among Nile Basin countries, rejects ‘unilateral measures’ on river Egypt,

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  The other ‘lizard people’: Why the Epstein Files are shattering global theory

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  When British author David Icke wrote his seminal work, The Biggest Secret: The Book That Will Change the World, published in 1999, he was not speaking metaphorically. When he detailed the “reptilian genetic streams” of “elite” families—human-reptile hybrids allegedly engineering global events—he meant it literally. To Icke, the world is not run by mere men, but by an interdimensional species operating just outside the visible light spectrum. While many scoff at this as the ultimate apex of human gullibility, millions have found a dark comfort in Icke’s “wisdom”. According to a landmark 2013 poll by Public Policy Polling (PPP), roughly 4 percent of American adults—between 12 and 13 million people—believed that shape-shifting lizard people control our world. Conspiracy theories in

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  UN Security Council imposes sanctions on four RSF leaders in Sudan

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  The UN Security Council’s sanctions committee on Sudan has added four senior commanders from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to its sanctions list, following a proposal by the United States, the United Kingdom and France. The proposal, submitted on 17th February, aims to include these leaders within the sanctions system established under Resolution 1591. The measures include travel bans and asset freezes to help curb the ongoing violence in Sudan. Those listed include Abdul Rahim Hamdan Dagalo, deputy commander of the RSF and brother of the group’s leader, Mohamed Hamdan “Hemedti” Dagalo. The sanctions also target Gedo Hamdan Ahmed, the RSF commander for North Darfur; Al-Fateh Abdullah Idris, a brigadier known as Abu Lulu; and Tijani Ibrahim Musa Mohamed, a

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  For the first time: US embassy to provide consular services in West Bank settlements

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  The United States embassy in Israel announced on Tuesday that it plans to provide consular services to US citizens inside settlements in the occupied West Bank, marking a first-of-its-kind move. In an official statement published under an initiative titled “Freedom 250”, the embassy said consular staff would offer routine passport services in the settlement of Efrat on Friday, 27 February. The embassy said the activity was part of its efforts “to reach all Americans”, adding that consular teams would be present at each location for one day only. According to the announcement, further visits are planned in the coming months to Ramallah, the settlement of Beitar Illit, as well as Haifa, Jerusalem, Netanya and Beit Shemesh. READ: Israeli minister raises flag

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  The Strait of Hormuz: Where geography becomes a weapon

  by MI on February 25, 2026

  For decades, American military planners have operated on a simple assumption: that overwhelming force, applied decisively, could resolve almost any crisis in the Persian Gulf. Iran, it turns out, has spent years making that assumption obsolete — not by building a navy capable of matching America’s, but by turning a narrow strip of water into the world’s most expensive dare. What Iranian commanders have constructed in and around the Strait of Hormuz — the 21-mile-wide chokepoint through which roughly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil passes each day — is not a conventional defense. It is an economic booby trap, engineered less to defeat the United States Navy than to make the cost of confrontation appear greater than the

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  Lebanese army says Israeli fire targets new border post in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  The Lebanese army said Tuesday that Israeli fire targeted a newly established monitoring post along the southern border, in a new violation of a November 2024 ceasefire, Anadolu reports. A military statement said that while army forces were setting up a monitoring point near Sarda in the Marjayoun district, the vicinity of the post came under fire from the Israeli side. An Israeli drone flew at low altitude over the area and issued threats aimed at forcing Lebanese troops to withdraw, the army added. The military said it has ordered reinforcements to the post and instructed personnel to remain in position and respond to sources of fire. The army said it is following up on the incident with the ceasefire

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  Lebanon warned about potential Hezbollah intervention alongside Iran if US attacks: Official

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  Lebanon has received warnings from “friendly” international parties about a potential “catastrophe” if Hezbollah intervenes alongside Iran in the event of a possible US attack, a Lebanese official told Anadolu Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The official said that “the Lebanese government was warned that any involvement by Hezbollah in support of Iran would have severe consequences for the country,” without elaborating. The government and the Foreign Ministry are working to shield infrastructure from any potential repercussions, the official added. The reported warnings follow remarks by Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem, who said the group “will not remain neutral” if Iran is attacked by the US or Israel. The US State Department instructed staff and their families at its Beirut Embassy on Monday

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  CIA urges Iranians to reach out as tensions between US, Iran hit fever pitch

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  The CIA asked Iranians to reach out to the agency with any “information or skills of interest to our organization” Tuesday as tensions between the US and Iran continue to escalate, Anadolu reports. “Hello. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) can hear your voice and wants to help you. Below is the necessary guidance on how to securely contact us virtually,” the agency said in a Farsi-language social media post on X alongside a more than two-minute video with instructions on how to contact the CIA. The video offered detailed instructions on how Iranians can reach out, suggesting the use of virtual private networks or Tor networks while avoiding business computers and office phones. It was posted as the US continues

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  12 F-22 fighter jets land in Israel amid US tensions with Iran

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  At least 12 US F-22 fighter jets landed at an Israeli air base on Tuesday amid escalating tensions with Iran, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported, Anadolu reports. “Twelve US F-22 fighter jets landed this afternoon at one of the Israeli Air Force bases in the south of the country, as part of the American deployment in the Middle East,” KAN said. It added that the aircraft are among the most advanced fighter jets in the world, possessed only by the US, and are tasked, among other missions, with “penetrating enemy territory and disabling air defense systems and radar installations.” The US has increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf region amid threats by US President Donald Trump of military

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  Israel had ‘zero’ national evacuation plans after Gaza war outbreak, state comptroller finds

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  The Israeli government had “zero national evacuation plans” following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman said in a report on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “The state must rectify the shortcomings in the treatment of the evacuees and prepare for the evacuation of tens of thousands in light of the current security situation,” Englman said in his report amid current rising tensions with Iran. “We found a grim picture of a systemic disorder to prepare for absorbing residents in emergency situations,” went on the comptroller. The report found that the Israeli government and army entered the Gaza war in October 2023 without an approved national operational plan for evacuating thousands of residents in frontline communities.

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  Reconstructing the details of Israel’s obliteration of Palestinians

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  A joint report released recently by Forensic Architecture and Earshot reconstructs Israel’s massacre of aid workers in March 2025. Commencing with Israel’s first violation of the ceasefire on 18 March 2025, in which 414 Palestinians were killed, the report focuses on 23 March, when two Palestinian Red Crescent Society ambulances were headed towards Al-Hashashin, close to Rafah and the site of an Israeli airstrike. At Tel al-Sultan, Israeli forces ambushed the second ambulance, killing two aid workers. The first ambulance was then dispatched to search for the missing ambulance, along with two other PRCS ambulances. Two other UN vehicles passing by Tel al-Sultan were also ambushed by Israeli forces. According to the report, 910 gunshots were heard in the three

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  In waiting for the light: The hidden philosophy of Ramadan

  by Marwa A on February 24, 2026

  In a world where eating has become a solitary act, snatched quickly in front of a screen or in the corner of an office, Ramadan arrives to restore the rhythm that modern life has quietly eroded. Not only the rhythm of the body, but the rhythm of community itself. The moment of iftar marks not the end of hunger, but the beginning of shared time. It is a rare moment when human beings come together without meeting, because the sun neither waits for nor favours anyone. This is what Muhammad Abdulsater captures in his recent piece for The Guardian when he writes, ‘Iftar isn’t just eating; it’s synchronisation’. A simple sentence, yet it opens a wide door to understanding Ramadan

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  28 killed, dozens injured in RSF attack on Sudan’s North Darfur, medics say

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  At least 28 civilians were killed and 39 others injured, including 10 women, in attacks by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Darfur, a Sudanese medical group said Tuesday. The Sudan Doctors Network said in a statement that the fatalities were reported in a rocket attack on the town of Mustariha in western Sudan. The attack also destroyed the area’s only health center. Medical personnel were attacked, and one healthcare worker was detained and has been missing ever since, the group stated. The medical group said the attack has caused a large wave of displacement to nearby villages and settlements amid already dire humanitarian conditions. “These attacks constitute a fully fledged crime and a blatant violation of all

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  France delivers 80 tons of food aid to Gaza: Foreign minister

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  France delivered 80 tons of food aid to Gaza on Monday, Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, noting that the humanitarian situation in the enclave remains difficult despite a ceasefire, Anadolu reports. “France delivered 80 tons of food aid to Gaza yesterday, where the humanitarian situation remains difficult despite the ceasefire. 320 tons are still waiting to be delivered,” Barrot wrote on the US social media company X. He stressed that assistance must reach civilians without obstruction. “The aid must be allowed to reach civilian populations without hindrance, alongside whom we remain mobilized,” he said. Although a ceasefire agreement took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, living conditions have not significantly improved, with Israel continuing to block the entry of aid shipments

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  Heavy rains flood displaced Palestinians’ tents in Gaza amid cold wave

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Heavy rains flooded tents sheltering displaced Palestinians across the Gaza Strip early Tuesday in the first winter storm to hit the territory since the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, worsening an already dire humanitarian crisis amid Israeli restrictions on shelter supplies, officials and witnesses said. A weather system brought rain and falling temperatures to Gaza late Monday and was expected to ease by Tuesday evening, meteorologist Laith Al-Alami said in a post on the US social media company Facebook. Gaza’s Civil Defense said its crews received multiple distress calls overnight reporting flooded displacement camps caused by heavy rainfall. Rescue teams saved several families after floodwaters submerged their tents in the al-Mawasi area west of Khan Younis in

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  Several Palestinians arrested as Israeli forces raid town in occupied West Bank

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Israeli forces raided a Palestinian town south of Nablus in the northern West Bank, arresting several people and damaging property, a local official said Tuesday. Yaqub Oweis, head of the eastern Lubban local council, told Anadolu that Israeli troops entered the town around midnight, searched several homes and damaged property inside some houses. He said several young men were arrested, without specifying the number. The town, home to about 4,200 Palestinians, has faced repeated closures and tightened restrictions by Israeli forces since the war in Gaza began in October 2023, Oweis said. He added that illegal Israeli settlers have also raided the town and carried out acts of vandalism. READ: US lawmaker introduces bill to condition US arms use in Gaza,

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  US lawmaker introduces bill to condition US arms use in Gaza, West Bank

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  US Congressman Sean Casten on Monday introduced legislation that would bar the use of US-origin weapons in Gaza and the West Bank if Israel violates the Oct. 10, 2025, ceasefire, pursues annexation, or fails to address settler violence against Palestinians, Anadolu reports. Casten said the Ceasefire Compliance Act is designed to align US military assistance with American laws, interests and values while preserving Israel’s right to defend itself. “As one of the United States’ most important allies, Israel must ensure that its policies and the use of U.S. military assistance align with American values, interests, and the law. “That starts with requiring compliance with the October 10, 2025, ceasefire agreement and the steps laid out in the 20-point plan, curbing

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  Israeli minister raises flag in Jordan Valley, claims West Bank is ‘part of the Land of Israel’

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu has claimed that the occupied West Bank is “part of the Land of Israel”, publishing footage showing himself raising an Israeli flag on a mountain peak in the Jordan Valley. Eliyahu, a member of the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, shared the video on the social media platform X on Monday evening, amid growing Palestinian concerns that Israeli political rhetoric and actions are paving the way for the annexation of the West Bank. In the post, the minister said the Israeli flag had been raised “for the first time” on the summit of Mount Sartaba, approximately 650 metres above the Jordan Valley. “We are reclaiming what is ours,” Eliyahu said, adding that authorities plan

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  PLO official says Hamas not a terrorist organisation and rejects calls for disarmament

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Azzam al-Ahmad, Secretary-General of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has said that Hamas is not a terrorist organisation and rejected calls for its disarmament, revealing plans for dialogue on the movement’s possible inclusion in the PLO. In an interview with Egypt’s Al-Shorouk newspaper, al-Ahmad addressed key political issues facing the Palestinian leadership, including the future governance of Gaza, relations between the PLO and Hamas, and international pressure to reform the Palestinian Authority. The senior Palestinian official, elected to his post last May following the appointment of Hussein al-Sheikh as Vice President of the Palestinian Authority, said discussions would soon begin regarding Hamas’s potential membership in the PLO framework. READ: Israel gives 60-day ultimatum for Hamas to disarm,

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  Nouri al-Maliki refuses to withdraw prime ministerial bid despite US pressure

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Former Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki has said he will not withdraw his candidacy for the premiership despite reported United States pressure and threats of sanctions linked to his nomination. Speaking to AFP on Monday, the leader of the State of Law Coalition said he had “absolutely no intention” of stepping aside, stressing that the decision rests solely with Iraqi political forces. “I have absolutely no intention of withdrawing, out of respect for the country I belong to, its sovereignty and its will,” al-Maliki said. “No one has the right to tell you not to vote for so-and-so and to vote for so-and-so.” Al-Maliki added that the Shiite Coordination Framework — the largest bloc in Iraq’s parliament — had agreed

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  UN chief warns of ethnic cleansing risk in Gaza and global human rights collapse

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has warned of the risk of ethnic cleansing in Gaza and a broader collapse of the global human rights system, citing escalating violations and growing disregard for international law worldwide. Speaking at the opening session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Guterres said civilian suffering had reached catastrophic levels across major conflict zones, including Gaza, Sudan and Ukraine. The Secretary-General stressed that the erosion of respect for human rights standards was not accidental but the result of deliberate political choices by international actors. He urged member states to stop treating human rights as optional commitments shaped by narrow political interests, emphasising that such rights are universal and indivisible. READ: UN raises alarm over risk

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  Netanyahu again rejects Gaza administration logo over use of ‘national’

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his objection to the logo of the Gaza Administration Committee, opposing the inclusion of the word “national”, according to a report published Monday by the Israeli newspaper Maariv. The newspaper said Netanyahu raised the issue during a meeting of the Security Cabinet, describing the logo as “unacceptable”. He had previously objected to an earlier version, arguing that it resembled the emblem of the Palestinian Authority. According to the report, the committee amended its design earlier this month in response to Israeli concerns. However, Netanyahu rejected the revised version as well, reiterating that Israel opposes the use of the term “national” in reference to the body. READ: Netanyahu tells Knesset Israel facing “very complex, difficult

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  US evacuates embassy staff from Beirut amid rising regional tensions

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  The United States has begun evacuating dozens of personnel from its embassy in Beirut as regional tensions intensify, while Israel announced expanded military preparations linked to a potential confrontation involving Iran and Hezbollah. Diplomatic sources and Lebanon’s LBCI television reported that dozens of US embassy staff were evacuated on Monday, 23rd February 2026, via Rafik Hariri International Airport. The move was described as a precautionary measure amid growing concerns over possible regional escalation. Security advisories issued to American citizens in Lebanon urged heightened vigilance and recommended avoiding crowded public areas. READ: Netanyahu tells Knesset Israel facing “very complex, difficult days” amid Iran tensions The partial evacuation reflects mounting diplomatic anxiety as tensions across the Middle East continue to rise. Meanwhile, assessments

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  Palestine FM: Israel continues killing and displacement; peace impossible without ending occupation

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin said on Monday that Israel continues mass killings and forced displacement, stressing that there can be no just peace without ending the occupation. She made the remarks to the Human Rights Council during its 61st session in Geneva, Switzerland, according to a statement from the Palestinian Foreign Ministry.  Shahin said, “Israel continues mass killings and forced displacement, imposing a colonial reality by military force, in blatant violation of international law and the United Nations Charter.” She added that “the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip shows a systematic disregard for the international system and its resolutions.” READ: Peace with Israel ‘not possible’ under constant violations of Palestinian rights, says foreign minister With US support,

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  Sudan’s Burhan offers amnesty to RSF fighters who lay down arms

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Sudan’s Sovereign Council Chairman, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, on Monday offered amnesty to fighters from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) if they lay down their arms. The remarks were made during a graduation ceremony for a new group of officers at the Naval College in Omdurman, west of the capital, Khartoum, according to a statement from the Sovereign Council. Burhan said the Sudanese army and people would continue fighting until the RSF was “defeated” and the country was “cleansed” of the group. “We have no option but to continue the battle to its end, or for the enemy to surrender and be eliminated,” he said. He renewed his offer of “amnesty for fighters who were misled”, adding: “The doors of repentance

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  More than 606 migrants dead or missing in Mediterranean since start of year

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  At least 606 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean Sea since the beginning of 2026, the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Monday. “This marks the deadliest start to a year in the Mediterranean since IOM began recording such data in 2014,” the agency added on its website page.  An IOM spokesperson said at least 30 people were reported dead or missing after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Crete Island on Saturday as it was heading to Greece in bad weather.   Greek authorities said they had recovered the bodies of three men and one woman. Four vessels are continuing to search for survivors. READ: UN says 53 migrants dead or missing

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  Huckabee’s Zionist dogma set to destroy the Middle East

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  When a sitting United States ambassador declares that it would be “fine if they took it all,” diplomacy does not merely slip — it crosses a threshold. Mike Huckabee’s endorsement of full Israeli control over occupied Palestinian territory, delivered on The Tucker Carlson Show, was not an offhand remark. It was a political signal. And in the context of a 78-year conflict defined by land, law and legitimacy, such signals carry strategic weight. For decades, successive US administrations have formally endorsed a negotiated two-state solution. That position was often inconsistently applied, and frequently undermined by events on the ground, but it served as a diplomatic anchor. It affirmed that occupation was not sovereignty and that territorial disputes required negotiation, not

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  Netanyahu tells Knesset Israel facing “very complex, difficult days” amid Iran tensions

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered an unusually brief address to the Knesset on Monday evening, saying the country is facing “very complex and difficult days”. Speaking during a plenary session convened under the so-called “40 signatures” procedure, initiated by the opposition under the title “Loss of security control inside and outside Israel’s borders”, Netanyahu addressed rising tensions with Iran and the large-scale deployment of US forces in the Middle East amid preparations for a possible strike. In a markedly shorter speech than usual, he said: “We are in very complex and extremely difficult days, full of challenges for the life of the state. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. We are vigilant and prepared for every scenario. I

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  Iraqi militia warns Syria against involvement in US ground military action against Iran

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  The Iraqi armed group Kataib Hezbollah has warned the Syrian authorities against becoming involved in what it described as a US ground military adventure against Iran. In a statement issued on Monday, the security official of the group, Abu Ali al-Askari, warned of rising tensions in the region linked to US military movements. In the statement, published on his Telegram channel, he said that “US preparations to target the Islamic Republic from Syria, passing through Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, are escalating, taking on a ground character.” READ: Turkey using all diplomatic tools to prevent attack on Iran, parliament speaker says The official called on “people in the region” to act rationally and avoid becoming involved in a military adventure targeting Iran. He

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  Spain urges EU to use pressure tools against Israeli government

  by MI on February 24, 2026

  Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, has called for a firmer European stance as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues and Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank persists. In a post on X on Monday, Albares said killings were still ongoing in Gaza while humanitarian aid remained stuck at border crossings.  He added that the European Union’s silence over what he described as Israeli violations in the West Bank and attempts to displace Palestinians was incomprehensible, calling for a clearer stance that aligns with the values proclaimed by the Union. Albares said the EU has the necessary tools to exert pressure on the Israeli government and urged the bloc to use them effectively to address the worsening humanitarian

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  Gulf bloc urges Iraq to withdraw UN map, coordinates over ‘infringement’ of Kuwait’s sovereignty

  by Marwa A on February 23, 2026

  The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) called on Iraq on Monday to withdraw a map and geographic coordinates Baghdad submitted to the United Nations, which Kuwait says infringes on its territory, Anadolu reports. In a statement, GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi said the map and coordinates “represent an infringement upon the sovereignty of the State of Kuwait over its maritime areas and shoals,” including Fasht Al Qaid and Fasht Al A’aij. He stressed the importance of addressing the issue “by resorting to the rules and principles of international law and the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” in line with bilateral understandings, agreements and memoranda of understanding between the two countries. Albudaiwi reaffirmed

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  Displaced in Gaza During Ramadan

  by Marwa A on February 23, 2026

  Images: Gazans welcome Ramadan with destroyed mosques and weak market activity

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  Iran in the face of the armed diplomacy of imperialism

  by Marwa A on February 23, 2026

  The ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, mediated by Oman and recently held in Geneva, have been presented by Western diplomacy as a technical effort to contain nuclear risks. This version is a carefully constructed farce. What is at stake is not the so-called “non-proliferation”, but a direct dispute between national sovereignty and imperial domination, conducted in order to preserve the regional hegemony of “Israel” and to keep the Middle East under the strategic tutelage of the US–Zionist axis. The United States does not negotiate in the name of peace or international security. It negotiates as the diplomatic and military arm of the Zionist regime, tasked with neutralising any regional power that escapes the colonial control imposed after

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  The digital high commissioner: Trump’s Maliki threat and the illusion of Iraqi sovereignty

  by Marwa A on February 23, 2026

  When President Donald Trump took to social media to demand that former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki withdraw his bid for a return to power, the message landed with explosive force. Within days, Maliki’s coalition Coordination Framework crumbled, withdrawing support under the weight of American pressure. What might have seemed like a passing tweet became a decisive intervention in Iraq’s fragile political landscape. Trump’s slapping tweed underscored how Washington’s hand still shapes outcomes in Baghdad. Maliki’s legacy and Washington’s fear Maliki’s candidacy was always controversial. His tenure from 2006 to 2014 was marked by sectarian policies that alienated Sunnis and Kurds. Analysts blame his governance for creating the conditions that allowed ISIS to rise. “Maliki’s return would have cemented Iraq’s

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  From 9/11 to Gaza, we still need Middle East studies

  by Marwa A on February 23, 2026

  Middle East studies is facing a crisis stemming from both funding cuts and a broader marginalization linked to a political climate of rapidly increasing levels of Islamophobia. From the aftermath of 9/11 to October 7th, the history of Middle East studies can teach us about where we are going and why we should fight to change course. Attacks on the discipline are rooted in fears of how education can threaten U.S. narratives on Gaza and strengthen advocacy for Palestinian freedom. As a PhD in Middle Eastern and North African studies, I can tell you that many of us chose to study cultures, religions, and countries because of a desire to understand and to dialogue. Our goal was to contribute some

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  KKK-style Israeli lynching in occupied West Bank leaves American teenager dead

  by Marwa A on February 23, 2026

  Details have emerged of the killing of a 19-year-old American from Philadelphia who was shot dead by an armed Israeli settler during a raid on the Palestinian village of Mukhmas in the illegally occupied West Bank. The events were reconstructed by journalist Jasper Nathaniel, who interviewed multiple eyewitnesses present during the attack. Nasrallah Abu Siyam was killed on the first full day of Ramadan after masked settlers, some armed with automatic weapons, stormed the small shepherding community alongside Israeli soldiers. At least four other Palestinians were shot, several more were beaten with metal rods, and more than 300 sheep and goats were driven off by settlers as troops fired tear gas and stun grenades into residential areas. According to eyewitness

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  Brazil’s Samba school wins 2026 carnival title with parade honouring Palestine

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  The samba school “Rosa do Povo” won the Access Group championship at the 2026 Curitiba Carnival, turning its debut into a high-impact result. Beyond competition, the parade delivered a clear message of solidarity with Gaza and Palestine, embedding that position directly into its samba-enredo and aligning artistic performance with an explicit socio-political stance. Its inaugural a samba-enredo, “A Rose Is Born in the Curitiba of All Peoples”, Palestine was not a small detail in the presentation, it was one of the emotional centers of the samba theme. Gaza and the Palestinian people were portrayed as symbols of strength, survival, and dignity in the face of violence.  The support for Gaza and Palestine was made explicit through visual and lyrical elements.

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  Backing Israel cost Democrats 2024 election, post-mortem reveals

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Support for Israel was a key factor in the 2024 loss in the presidential election, an internal Democratic autopsy has found, according to a report by Axios. Senior party officials have concluded that Joe Biden’s unwavering backing of Israel’s genocide on Gaza cost the Democrats critical support among younger and progressive voters. The findings, which remain under lock and key at the Democratic National Committee (DNC), have fuelled accusations that party leaders are suppressing politically explosive conclusions about the electoral impact of US policy towards Israel.  Officials who worked on the still-secret review of the 2024 defeat determined that former president Biden’s approach to Israel’s assault on Gaza was a “net-negative” for the party. READ: Voting against genocide: How Gaza

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  EU commissioner urges expanded Rafah access to boost Gaza aid

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Humanitarian aid is entering Gaza only “drop by drop,” European Commissioner for Equality and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib said Monday, calling for expanded access through the Rafah crossing, fewer restrictions on dual-use goods and greater access for NGOs operating on the ground, Anadolu reports. “The crossing point is open, but not enough,” Lahbib said at the doorstep of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, warning that “there are still strikes every day” and that “citizens are killed and injured every day because of the strikes.” She stressed that “the first phase is not fully implemented, so we still need to work on this first phase before talking about the second.” Highlighting risks to humanitarian staff, she said: “So far, 600 humanitarian

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  Mosque entrance set on fire, racist graffiti sprayed in West Bank village

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Israeli settlers set fire to the entrance of a mosque and sprayed racist slogans on its walls in the occupied West Bank, Nablus, on Monday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf said settlers attempted to torch a mosque in the village of Tel, near Nablus. The statement added that the arson attempt targeted the Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq Mosque. Since the war on Gaza began on Oct. 8, 2023, Israel has intensified operations in the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, through the army and illegal settlers. READ: Gazans mark Ramadan without hundreds of imams killed in Israeli war These actions include killings, arrests, demolitions, displacement and settlement expansion. Palestinians warn that the measures pave the way for

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  India’s hyphenated ties with Israel betray its past stand for decolonization

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  India and Israel have cultivated a robust strategic partnership based on shared interests in defense, technology, agriculture, and counter-terrorism. Since normalizing relations in 1992, they have transitioned into key allies, with Israel becoming a top defense supplier and India emerging as a major market for Israeli technology, fostering a “special” and high-trust relationship. This bonhomie with Israel’s fascist stance hyphenates India with a country that is increasingly fascist, racist, colonial, militaristic, and the only official apartheid state in the world. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit Israel on February 27-28, 2026, marking a significant, high-stakes visit to deepen these ties during his third term. The partnership between India and Israel, characterized by deep defense, technology, and intelligence cooperation, is often

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  The day after the bombs: The strategic void of US intervention in Iran

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  It seems that in his second presidential term, Donald Trump is still severely suffering from the same problem he had eight years ago; he fundamentally does not understand Iran. Evidently, Trump lacks a clear understanding of Iran’s geopolitical and identity-based complexities, which has now brought him to the brink of one of his most perilous foreign policy decisions: issuing the order for war. While the prospect of a prolonged aerial bombing campaign still appears alluring to American politicians, the new paradigm of intervention—namely, what recently unfolded in Venezuela—has given Washington a dangerous surge of overconfidence; a miscalculation that could ultimately culminate in a full-scale catastrophe in the Middle East. Iran is not Libya, nor Iraq, nor Venezuela; and attempting to

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  Pan-Islamic grouping to hold emergency meeting Thursday to discuss ‘invalid’ Israeli decisions in West Bank

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an emergency meeting of its foreign ministers on Thursday to address Israel’s decisions to expand illegal settlements and pursue annexation of the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The Jeddah meeting comes at the request of Palestine “to coordinate positions and discuss ways of action to confront these invalid decisions” and measures aimed at “changing the legal, political and demographic status of Palestinian territory and undermining the two-state solution,” the organization’s General Secretariat said in a statement. On Feb. 15, the Israeli government approved a proposal to register large areas in the West Bank as “state property,” for the first time since Israel occupied the territory in 1967. According to Israeli media, the

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  Gazans mark Ramadan without hundreds of imams killed in Israeli war

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  The Muslim holy month of Ramadan has arrived in the Gaza Strip without hundreds of imams, preachers and Quran teachers who were killed during the Israeli war, leaving hundreds of mosques in ruins and altering traditions Palestinians long associated with the fasting month. Palestinians say they miss the imams who once led prayers, delivered Friday sermons and offered religious lessons that shaped both spiritual and social life in the enclave. Residents now pray in wooden and plastic tents erected atop or beside the rubble of destroyed mosques, or inside partially damaged buildings with cracked walls. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, Israel killed 312 preachers, imams, religious instructors and Quran teachers during Israel’s two-year war and destroyed

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  Hamas: Netanyahu’s remarks on new regional axis a direct threat to Arab interests

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Hazem Qassem, spokesman for the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about forming a new regional axis including Arab states amount to “blatant disregard” for Arab countries and pose a direct threat to their interests. In a statement posted on Sunday, Qassem said Netanyahu’s talk of a new regional bloc, involving Arab nations, reflects a lack of respect for the region’s leading Arab powers and represents a real threat to their strategic interests. He added that Israel, which he described as alien to the region and its history, seeks to lead regional alliances with US backing in order to advance its own interests, which he said are inherently at odds with those of

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  Tensions rise in Tel Aviv as Netanyahu asks: “Is Trump still with us? I’m worried.”

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  The planned summit between the United States and Iran in Geneva on Thursday is seen in Washington as a crucial opportunity to advance talks on a new nuclear agreement. While President Donald Trump’s advisers, including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, are seeking to allow more room for diplomacy, other figures within his circle are pressing for military action against Tehran if no breakthrough is achieved. According to Israel’s Channel 12 News, the perceived hesitation in Washington is causing concern in Tel Aviv. A US source who met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week said Netanyahu left his meeting with President Trump at the White House without clarity over the president’s intentions. READ: Turkey using all diplomatic tools to prevent attack

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  Netanyahu speaks of forming ‘alliance’ against ‘Sunni and Shia axes’ including Arab states

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that efforts were under way to form what he described as a regional “alliance” to counter what he called “Sunni and Shia axes”. According to Bloomberg, Netanyahu made the remarks at a cabinet meeting ahead of a visit this week by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said the proposed network of alliances would include India, Arab and African countries, Greece, Cyprus and other Asian states. Netanyahu added that these countries share what he described as a different vision from what he called the “hardline Shia axis” and the “emerging hardline Sunni axis”. READ: Israeli group warns Trump: Netanyahu is misleading you on full West Bank annexation He claimed the aim was “to

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  Saudi Foreign Ministry: We reject Iraq’s violations of our shared maritime borders with Kuwait

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said on Monday it was closely monitoring with “deep concern” a map and lists of coordinates submitted by Iraq to the United Nations, which it said encroach on the divided area adjacent to the Saudi-Kuwaiti border. In a statement, the ministry said the Iraqi submission included claims over large parts of the divided submerged area next to the onshore divided area jointly administered by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It said the two countries share ownership of natural resources in the area under existing agreements based on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982. Riyadh added that the coordinates also violate Kuwait’s sovereignty over its maritime areas and elevations, including Fasht Al-Qaid

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  Sudan condemns Uganda’s reception of RSF leader as ‘direct support for ‘genocide’

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Uganda’s reception of Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, describing it as “direct support for the crimes of genocide” that Khartoum accuses the paramilitary group of committing. In a statement, the ministry denounced Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni’s meeting on Friday with the RSF leader. “This unprecedented step insults humanity before it insults the Sudanese people, and at the same time, it disregards the lives of innocent people killed due to the behaviour of Hemedti and his terrorist militia,” the Foreign Ministry stated. The ministry added the “atrocities committed by the terrorist militia (RSF)” had been documented by the international community and condemned by regional organisations to which Uganda

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  Israel designates Palestinian online platforms as Hamas affiliates, warns of escalation in Jerusalem

  by MI on February 23, 2026

  Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has signed a military order classifying a number of Palestinian online media platforms as affiliates of Hamas. According to the Israeli decision, Hamas is allegedly using these platforms to incite unrest among Palestinians, particularly in Jerusalem, during the month of Ramadan. Israel’s Channel 12 reported a warning issued by the Shin Bet security agency. The agency said: “There is a deliberate attempt to stir unrest and incite violence, with a focus on Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa.” The Shin Bet added that five online platforms were operating as Hamas affiliates, especially those managed from Turkey. It said action would be taken against them under Israel’s counter-terrorism law. The Israeli report also stated that the information had been