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

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  Iranian source: US proposal contains “unacceptable clauses”

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Iran has not yet formally responded to the latest proposal from the United States, describing parts of it as “unacceptable”, Tasnim News Agency reported an informed Iranian source as saying. The source said ongoing American media messaging was aimed at justifying what he described as US President Donald Trump’s retreat from recent hostile actions, adding that “the language of force and threats” had proven ineffective against Iran and had instead worsened the situation. According to the source, Tehran had previously submitted a 14-point proposal through Pakistani mediators, which he described as “reasonable and logical”. He said the US later presented its own plan, but Iran paused its review after what he called renewed American hostility. The source added that Tehran

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  Israeli court rejects appeal over detention extension of Gaza flotilla activists

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  An Israeli district court in Beersheba on Wednesday rejected an appeal filed by rights group Adalah against the extension of the detention of the Global Sumud Flotilla activists Thiago Avila and Saif Abukeshek, Anadolu Agency reported. Attorney Hadeel Abu Saleh, from the Adalah human rights center, told Anadolu: “We appealed to the Central Court in Beersheba after the Magistrate’s Court decided to extend their detention for six days.” “In our appeal, we said that the arrest was illegal and took place in international waters, and that the court, the Israeli police or the authorities had no jurisdiction to make the arrest,” she added. Abu Saleh said both activists were questioned from day one regarding their humanitarian mission to deliver humanitarian

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  The barometer of volatility: How the world became a hostage to Trump’s mood

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Last Friday, 1st May, Slovakia’s prime minister, Robert Fico, commented to journalists that his assessment of global stability was reduced to a startlingly simple metric: the morning temperament of the American President. “Everything is under pressure, including oil prices, depending on how President Trump wakes up,” Fico remarked, noting that a “good mood” can send oil prices tumbling while a single erratic statement can send them surging. While Fico’s comments might sound like hyperbole, they describe a new and precarious “Barometer of Volatility” that now governs international security. For the Middle East—a region where the price of a barrel and the movement of a carrier strike group are often determined by whispers in Washington—this unpredictability is not just a market

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  Israeli report says concern growing over Syrian army reconstruction

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  The Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that concern is increasing within Israel over efforts by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to rebuild the Syrian military. According to the report, the Syrian leadership is working to rehabilitate the air force and develop heavy weapons capabilities, including armoured vehicles, artillery systems and missiles. Maariv said Israeli officials believe the consolidation of the new Syrian government is advancing more rapidly than expected. The report added that Israeli security officials view the developments with concern partly because of support provided by Turkey and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to the Syrian authorities. Israeli military and defence officials quoted by the newspaper described the new Syrian government as a potential long-term threat, claiming it is strengthening its military

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  Israeli authorities ban Raed Salah and Kamal Khatib from Al-Aqsa for six months

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Israeli police in occupied Jerusalem have issued orders banning Raed Salah and Kamal Khatib from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for six months. The order, signed by Jerusalem District Police Commander Avsholim Peled, states that the ban will remain in effect from 27th April until 27th October 2026 and was issued under powers granted by Israeli police regulations dating back to 1971. According to the decision, the two sheikhs are prohibited from entering or remaining within the Al-Aqsa compound unless granted special permission directly by the police commander. In response, Khatib rejected the measure, describing it as part of a continuing campaign targeting leaders linked to the Islamic Movement since it was outlawed by Israel in 2015. He said the

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  Israeli army chief says no limits on force in southern Lebanon operations

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said there are “no restrictions on the use of force” in operations against Hezbollah during a visit to southern Lebanon on Wednesday. Zamir made the remarks during a tour of Khiam alongside senior commanders from the Israeli army’s Northern Command, as cross-border attacks and military raids continued despite the fragile ceasefire. According to Israeli military statements, forces in the north are continuing operations aimed at defending Israeli towns, eliminating threats and intensifying strikes against Hezbollah positions. Addressing officers and soldiers, Zamir said troops had full access to the army’s capabilities and instructed them to continue identifying and targeting Hezbollah fighters in the field. He claimed that since the war began on 2nd March, Israeli

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  Palestine envoy protests removal of “Palestine” from British Museum displays

  by Marwa A on May 7, 2026

  Palestinian ambassador to the United Kingdom Husam Zomlot has formally protested to the British government over the removal of the word “Palestine” from displays at the British Museum, describing the move as a “deliberate historical erasure” of the Palestinian narrative. According to The Guardian, the museum removed references to “Palestine” from explanatory panels related to the geography of the Levant and ancient Egypt, replacing them with terms such as “Gaza” and “West Bank”. The words “Palestine” and “Palestinian” were also reportedly removed from descriptions in the museum’s Ancient Near East and Egypt galleries. The changes came despite United Kingdom recognition of the State of Palestine in September 2025, prompting criticism over what Zomlot described as a contradiction between Britain’s official

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  Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 16, wound 21, damage school despite ceasefire

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  Israeli drone and air strikes in southern and eastern Lebanon killed 16 people and wounded 21 others, including paramedics, and damaged a school, Lebanese officials said on Wednesday, in the latest apparent violation of a ceasefire, Anadolu reports. Two people were killed in drone strikes on the town of Mefdoun, while additional airstrikes targeted areas between Zawtar al-Sharqiya and Zawtar al-Gharbiya, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported. Four more people were killed and three others injured in a separate strike that hit the home of a municipal council head in the town of Zellaya in western Bekaa, with rescue operations ongoing at the site, the agency added. An Israeli strike also hit a car between the towns of Zawtar al-Sharqiya and

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  Football is not ‘the beautiful game’ when it collaborates with genocide

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  FIFA President Gianni Infantino played an infantile game at the 76th FIFA congress when he encouraged the Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub and Israel’s FA Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman to shake hands. Faced with Rajoub’s refusal, Infantino then said, “We will work together, President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters.” Throughout the decades FIFA turned a blind eye to international law violations several times. One would recall the destruction of favelas in Brazil to build stadiums  for the 2014 World Cup. In earlier history, FIFA’s tacit silence during Latin America’s right-wing dictatorships enabled both impunity and coverup of disappearances of thousands of detainees. One horrifying details regarding

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  A Daring Enterprise: A US-Egyptian Partnership and the Case for Soft Power

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  The United States has been implementing steep cuts to its overseas aid development programmes since Donald Trump became US president in 2024. In 2025, US Foreign Aid went from $200 billion to $174 billion with proposals for more cuts. Most of the aid effected include humanitarian relief as well as stabilisation projects, within the circles of the current administration foreign aid is treated as an unacceptable freebie or handout that gives the United States very little in return. While USAID is treated as a drain at best on America’s resources and at worst an attempt by the old liberal elite to benefit foreigners over Americans, few who demonise it understand what USAID actually does. Cuts to these programmes hamper global

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  Trump sees potential Iran deal within ‘a week’: Fox News

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  President Donald Trump believes a potential agreement with Iran could be finalized within “a week,” Fox News’ Bret Baier said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “Well, I I had a phone call with the president, a short time ago, and he is optimistic about this deal, this memorandum of understanding, thinks it is going to lead to things. “He’s cautiously optimistic, I should say … I asked him what the time frame would be, he puts it at a week getting everything wrapped up,” Baier said during a live news broadcast. He said “the key part” is getting the highly rich uranium out of Iran, and making sure the Strait of Hormuz is completely open. Earlier Wednesday, Trump said Iran wants to

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  Subjects of empire: Breaking the cycle of Arab dependency on US elections

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  Much of the current discourse on the Middle East remains fixated on the US midterm congressional elections this coming November. This vote, in particular, is being framed as a pivotal turning point for everything from the survival of Gaza and Lebanon to the future of Iran and beyond. To a large extent, one can understand why US corporate media is obsessed with this date. US political power is divided between two ruling parties, each deeply embedded in an intricate system of powerful political and economic elites. For these groups, election results are decisive in shaping the overall direction of the country, but more specifically, they determine the fortunes and misfortunes of a ruling class whose very fate is tied to

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  Palestine Coalition issue formal complaint against the Metropolitan Police Commissioner over his accusations of antisemitism

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  The Palestine Coalition has today commenced a formal complaint with the London Mayor’s Office over comments by Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley. In interviews with The Times and ITV on 1st May, Commissioner Rowley asserted that the Coalition organisers have sought to route marches for Palestinian rights past synagogues. In The Times he said, “The fact that features as the organisers’ intent, I think that sends a message … that feels like antisemitism.” On ITV he said, “They set out with an intent to march near synagogues etc and every single time that we put conditions on to prevent that.” The Palestine Coalition have condemned his remarks and wrote to the Commissioner two days ago calling on him to retract

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  Slovenia joins Spain in urging EU to protect independence of ICC, UN on Gaza

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  Slovenia joined Spain on Wednesday in calling on the European Union to protect the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the UN, as well as their efforts to end the Israeli genocide in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob voiced strong support for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s appeal for Europe to take action, according to a government statement shared on the US social media platform X. “Europe’s response so far has not matched the gravity of the situation. We need to act now because fundamental European values cannot carry a price tag. The independence of international courts is non-negotiable,” Golob reportedly said. The statement also warned against threats targeting international justice and the rule of

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  Israel orders demolition of nearly 50 Palestinian facilities near East Jerusalem for settlement project

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israeli authorities have ordered the demolition of nearly 50 shops and commercial facilities in the Palestinian town of Al-Eizariya, southeast of East Jerusalem, as part of measures paving the way for a controversial settlement project in the area, Palestinian officials said Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports. The Jerusalem Governorate said in a statement that Israeli authorities verbally notified around 50 Palestinians to evacuate their businesses in the Al-Mashtal area at the main entrance to Al-Eizariya before Sunday morning. The statement said the move aims to implement demolition orders originally issued in August 2025. According to the governorate, Israeli authorities warned that the facilities and their contents would be demolished if owners failed to comply within the specified timeframe. Palestinian officials said appeals

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  Israel’s ‘Absolute Security’ doctrine: A recipe for regional insecurity | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we examine Israel’s expanding control over Gaza through the shifting “Yellow Line” and the emergence of a clandestine “voluntary migration” programme, before turning to the occupied West Bank, where the JNF is cutting funding to settler farm outposts as Israel’s wider strategy moves from “conflict management” towards annexation. We also discuss fresh allegations against ICC prosecutor Karim Khan, Israel’s application of the Gaza model in Lebanon and Barack Obama’s claim that Benjamin Netanyahu pushed him towards war with Iran before making the same case to Donald Trump. The episode ends by looking at the growing regional divide between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over Israel, Iran and the future of Gulf security.  

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  Ben-Gvir, wife ‘need a psychiatrist immediately,’ Arab Knesset member says

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and his wife “need a psychiatrist immediately,” Arab Knesset member Ahmad Tibi said Wednesday, Anadolu Agency reports. Tibi’s remarks came in response to Ben-Gvir receiving from his wife a birthday cake decorated with a “noose,” in celebration of a law on the execution of Palestinian prisoners advanced by the minister’s far-right Otzma Yehudit party. “I must use my additional profession as a doctor, even though this case is not my specialty, this family urgently needs a psychiatrist immediately,” Tibi told Israel’s 103 FM radio. “These two individuals (Ben-Gvir and his wife) are psychologically disturbed, but this psychological condition will find supporters in Israeli society,” he added. “Usually, people wish for a better future and love

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  War on Iran can end if Tehran agrees to terms: Trump

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the US-Israeli war on Iran could come to an end if Tehran complies with the terms of a potential agreement, while warning that renewed bombing would follow if it refuses. “Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran,” Trump said on his TruthSocial account. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important waterways, linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. Any disruption there can have significant consequences for

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  Israel to spend $730m on propaganda as global image collapses over Gaza genocide

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israel is preparing to spend nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars on its propaganda apparatus, in a sign of growing alarm in Tel Aviv over its collapse in global standing following the genocide in Gaza and expanding wars across the region. According to The Jerusalem Post, Israel’s public diplomacy budget, known in Hebrew as hasbara, has risen to $730 million, more than four times the $150 million allocated the previous year. That earlier sum was itself reportedly around 20 times higher than Israel’s pre-2023 spending on such efforts.  The vast increase was included in Israel’s national budget passed in March and will be directed through the national public diplomacy directorate, which oversees efforts to shape foreign public opinion. The surge

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  Latin American anger grows over Israel’s detention of Thiago Ávila

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Anger is spreading across parts of Latin America after Israeli forces intercepted the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters and detained activists, including Brazilian citizen Thiago Ávila. The case has triggered diplomatic pressure from Brazil, criticism from civil-society groups, and sharper legal and political reactions from Chilean and Palestinian community figures in the region. The outrage has intensified further after reports circulated this morning claiming that Thiago’s mother had died from grief over her son, who remains detained in Israeli prisons. In Brazil, public pressure has moved beyond official statements. Around 20 protesters gathered on Tuesday morning in São Paulo to demand Ávila’s release after he was detained by Israeli forces during a humanitarian mission in the Middle East. The

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  Palestinian journalists continue reporting from Gaza despite killings, threats and starvation

  by Marwa A on May 6, 2026

  “Journalists are not only killed. They are starved, injured, imprisoned, and targeted alongside their families.” Palestinian journalists in Gaza are documenting history under impossible conditions. Mohammed Alturk shares how journalists have been threatened, injured, killed,… pic.twitter.com/yZVJ0F8zjh — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) May 6, 2026 Images: Medical evacuations delayed at Gaza crossing

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  Iran says ships complying with new Hormuz transit regulations

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said Wednesday ships are complying with new transit regulations set by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu Agency reports. In a post on the US social media platform X, the IRGC Navy said the cooperation of vessels was contributing to regional maritime security. The force said “safe and stable passage” through the Strait of Hormuz would be ensured under what it described as new protocols after “threats by the aggressor” had been neutralized. On Tuesday, the IRGC Navy urged vessels to use only designated routes when transiting the Strait of Hormuz, warning that deviations would be considered unsafe and could prompt “decisive action.” “All vessels intending to pass through the strait must use

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  IDF raids Gaza-bound flotilla in international waters — Where is the line between enforcement and unlawful seizure?

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israel’s interception of the Freedom Flotilla has intensified debate over the limits of state power at sea, raising questions about jurisdiction in international waters and the legality of the Gaza blockade. Between 29th and 30th April 2026, Israeli naval forces intercepted 22 boats belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters to the west of Crete. The boats were carrying activists and humanitarian supplies in an attempt to challenge the blockade of Gaza and deliver aid. On 1 May, 173 of the 175 participants were transferred to Crete while two of them, Thiago Ávila from Brazil and Saif Abukeshek, a Palestinian with Spanish and Swedish citizenship, were deported and detained in Israel on charges of “membership of a terrorist

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  UN calls for immediate, unconditional release of detained Global Sumud aid flotilla members

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  The UN Human Rights Office on Wednesday called on Israel to “immediately and unconditionally release” two members of the Global Sumud humanitarian aid flotilla who were detained at sea and are being held in Israel “without charge,” Anadolu Agency reports. “Israel must immediately and unconditionally release Global Sumud Flotilla members Saif Abukeshek and Thiago de Avila, who were detained in international waters and brought to Israel where they continue to be held without charge,” spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said in a statement. “It is not a crime to show solidarity and attempt to bring humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza, who are in dire need of it,” he added. Al-Kheetan also said allegations of “severe mistreatment” involving the two detainees

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  The surcharge tax Americans pay to finance Israel-first wars

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  The next time you pull into a gas station, watch the number on the pump as you squeeze the handle. That rapidly spinning dollar amount is not just the price of gasoline. Included in it is an Israeli added tax you did not consent to pay.  Since early March 2026, the average American household has been spending 50 percent more to fill their tank than just one month earlier. The Trump administration and its Israel-first ideologues blamed market forces for the spike, framing it as short-term pain for long-term gain. What they will not say, what they are never permitted to say in Washington, is that Americans have been living the “pain” of the Israeli oil surcharge tax for more

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  Trump’s new Iran negotiator is Israel lobbyist who denounced talks with Tehran

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  The US has added a hardline Iran hawk and former pro-Israel lobbyist to its negotiating team, in a move that is likely to fuel speculations that Washington’s Iran policy is being shaped by ‘Israel First” officials. Nick Stewart, formerly managing director of advocacy at FDD Action, the lobbying arm of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), has joined the office of special envoy Steve Witkoff, one of Trump’s main negotiators with Iran.  The appointment comes after months of failed diplomacy in which Washington’s demands shifted from preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons to adopting Israel’s maximalist red lines: no uranium enrichment, and then the inclusion of Iran’s ballistic missile programme. Stewart has previously denounced the premise of negotiations with

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  Israeli army arrests 17 Palestinians, demolishes home in West Bank raids

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israeli forces arrested at least 17 Palestinians, including two women and a child, and demolished a home in the West Bank on Wednesday, in the latest escalation in the occupied territory, according to local officials, Anadolu Agency reports. Israeli troops carried out raids across multiple areas in the West Bank, arresting “at least 17 Palestinians, including two women and child,” the Prisoners’ Media Office said in a statement. The office said forces raided homes, searched properties and damaged belongings during the raids, which were concentrated in Nablus, Bethlehem, Hebron and Ramallah. In a separate development, Israeli forces sealed off the town of Turmus Ayya, northeast of Ramallah, blocking all entrances with earth mounds and isolating it from surrounding areas, local official

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  Iran’s pipe dream: Why US bases are not going anywhere

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  For more than eight decades, the United States has maintained a formidable military presence across the Arabian Gulf. US bases are dotted across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman. This military presence did not emerge by accident. It was shaped by three enduring strategic goals forged in the aftermath of World War II: the security of Israel, the uninterrupted flow of oil, and the preservation of the conservative Arab states that anchor regional order. These goals have never been formally revised, and despite the seismic geopolitical shifts of the intervening decades, they remain the bedrock of American strategy in the region. The Carter Doctrine of 1980 crystallized this commitment in unambiguous terms. Triggered by the

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  Pakistan ‘hopeful’ for ‘lasting’ US-Iran pact for ‘durable peace, stability’ after Trump pauses Hormuz mission

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Pakistan’s prime minister on Wednesday welcomed US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause Project Freedom in the Strait of Hormuz, voicing hope that the current momentum will lead to a lasting peace agreement with Iran, Anadolu Agency reports. “Pakistan remains firmly committed to supporting all efforts that promote restraint and a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. We are very hopeful that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond,” Shehbaz Sharif wrote on US social media platform X. He said that Trump’s “gracious” response to the request made by Pakistan and other “brotherly” countries, particularly Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, “will go a long way

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  UAE president receives solidarity calls after attacks from Iran

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed received calls of solidarity from regional and international leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after the Gulf state reported a second day of attacks from Iran, according to the state news agency WAM on Wednesday. Jordan’s King Abdullah II, Netanyahu and Kurdistan Regional Government Prime Minister Masrour Barzani “expressed their condemnation of the Iranian terrorist attacks targeting civilians and civilian sites and facilities”, the agency said. “The leaders affirmed their countries’ solidarity with the UAE and their support for all measures it takes to safeguard its security and stability and ensure the safety of its citizens,” WAM added. The UAE Ministry of Defense said Tuesday that it had intercepted missile and

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  Iran, Saudi Arabia stress diplomacy to prevent further regional tensions

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Iran and Saudi Arabia emphasized the importance of diplomacy and regional cooperation to prevent further escalation in the Middle East during a phone call between their top diplomats on Wednesday, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, Anadolu Agency reports. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is currently in Beijing for talks with Chinese officials, held a phone conversation with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the ministry said in a statement. The two sides discussed the latest regional developments and stressed the need to continue diplomatic efforts and coordination among regional countries to prevent rising tensions, according to the statement. There was no immediate Saudi statement on the talks. Regional tensions have escalated since the US and Israel launched a war

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  Israel’s Netanyahu appears in court for 84th hearing in corruption trial

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared before the District Court in Tel Aviv on Wednesday for the 84th time in his ongoing trial on corruption charges. According to Israeli news website Walla, Wednesday’s hearing could be the final session related to Case 4000 before the court moves on to examining Case 2000. Netanyahu has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and described the charges as politically motivated. The cases, known as “1000,” “2000” and “4000,” center on allegations that Netanyahu received valuable gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for favors, sought favorable media coverage from a newspaper publisher and granted regulatory benefits to a telecommunications executive in return for positive coverage on a news website. In addition to the domestic corruption trial, Netanyahu

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  Beijing extends support to Iran amid conflict with US ahead of Trump’s China trip

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  China on Wednesday extended support to Iran amid the conflict with the US as Beijing prepares to host US President Donald Trump next week, Anadolu Agency reports. “China supports Iran in safeguarding its national sovereignty and security and appreciates Iran’s willingness to seek a political solution through diplomatic channels,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi during a meeting in Beijing. He added that a complete cessation of hostilities “is imperative” while restarting the conflict “is unacceptable, and persisting in negotiations is particularly important,” according to a statement from China’s Foreign Ministry. Araghchi reached Beijing at China’s invitation for their first in-person talks since the US and Israel initiated war with Iran on Feb. 28. Trump is scheduled

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  The hypothesis of the collapse of powers like Iran fails in the real world

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  In the intellectual circles of Washington and its allies, a growing certainty is evident: a combination of military and economic pressure can bring Iran to its knees or drive it towards collapse. Analysts present detailed three-step plans to “crush Tehran” and postulate that the West holds strategic superiority. However, a deeper look at the array of global and regional developments illustrates this certainty to be a dangerous “strategic illusion”. These roadmaps, by ignoring systemic consequences, geopolitical blind spots and their own internal vulnerabilities, chart a path towards an uncontrollable and attritional quagmire rather than a route to victory. The fundamental weakness of these analyses is the oversimplification of the conflict’s nature. For example, the strategy of simultaneously intensifying economic and

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  Israel seeks to resume attacks on Iran, message to Washington reveals

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israel has sent a message to Washington saying its security and military leadership want to resume attacks on Iran, according to sources cited by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation. The report said Israel believes negotiations with Iran are a waste of time. It added that Israel aims to use the current escalation in the Gulf to relaunch strikes on Iranian territory.  Military officials from Israel and the United States reportedly drew up a new target bank in April. Most of the newly identified targets inside Iran are crude oil facilities, the report said. READ: Trump says US must ‘make a journey’ to Iran to seize nuclear material

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  Israel pursuing systematic annexation in West Bank, campaign says

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Ramzi Odeh, Secretary-General of the International Academic Campaign Against Occupation, said Israel is pursuing a systematic policy of annexation in the occupied West Bank, with the intention of displacement and what he described as “eradication” carried out by Israeli forces and settlers. Speaking to the Egyptian TV channel Nile News on Tuesday, Odeh stated that recent Israeli laws and the construction of thousands of housing units clearly demonstrate Israel’s intention to annex the West Bank. He added that these developments are part of a broader effort to weaken the Palestinian Authority, marginalise its role, and leave it unable to maintain security, govern effectively, or ensure stability. Odeh warned there is no political horizon in the West Bank, with no discussion

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  US condemns Khartoum airport attack, renews call for Sudan truce

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  The United States has condemned a drone attack on Khartoum Airport and other civilian sites, warning that such strikes further hinder urgently needed humanitarian access in Sudan. In a post on X, Massad Boulos, senior adviser to the US President on Arab and African affairs, renewed calls for Sudanese parties to accept a humanitarian truce and ceasefire. “The United States condemns the drone attack on Monday targeting Khartoum Airport and other civilian sites, reportedly committed by the Rapid Support Forces,” Boulos said. He added that civilian objects must not be targeted. Civilian airports are especially critical for the movement of humanitarian supplies and personnel.    “Attacks like these generate yet another hindrance for desperately needed humanitarian access,” he said. Boulos stressed

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  Over 400 former diplomats urge Brussels to act against major Israeli settlement plan in West Bank

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  More than 400 former European ministers, ambassadors and officials on Wednesday urged European Union leaders in an open letter to “act now” against what they described as Israel’s “illegal annexation” in the occupied West Bank through the E1 (East 1) project, which plans to build thousands of homes. The 448 signatories, including former European Commission Vice-President Josep Borrell and former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, said: “The European Union and its member states, in cooperation with partners, must take immediate steps to deter Israel from continuing its illegal annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank.” In August 2025, Israel approved Project E1, which will divide the occupied West Bank into two parts, threatening any geographical connection to a future

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  Democrats urge Trump administration to break silence on Israel’s nuclear programme

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  More than 20 Democratic lawmakers in the US House of Representatives have called on the State Department to end its official silence on Israel’s nuclear weapons programme, amid rising risks of military escalation linked to the war with Iran.    Representatives, led by Joaquin Castro, addressed a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, stating that Congress has a “constitutional responsibility” to be fully informed about the nuclear balance of power in the Middle East, the risks of escalation among parties to the conflict, and the US administration’s plans to deal with such scenarios, particularly during the ongoing war coordinated with the Israeli government. The lawmakers warned that “The risks of miscalculation, escalation, and nuclear use in this environment are not

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  Female prisoners in Damon prison subjected to over 10 repression and torture incidents in April

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  The Prisoners’ Information Office said on Tuesday evening that female detainees in Damon prison were subjected to more than 10 repression and torture operations during April. It said the raids involved the use of stun grenades, forcing prisoners to lie face down on the ground, restraining them from behind, and assaulting them with beatings and kicks, often away from surveillance cameras. The office added that the incursions were accompanied by arbitrary solitary confinement imposed on a number of prisoners without justification, as well as forced transfers inside cells. It noted that two pregnant detainees are being held in the prison under difficult health conditions amid repeated repression and psychological pressure, with one of them transferred to hospital. It said living

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  Air defense activated against drones near Iran’s Qeshm Island: Report

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Iranian media reported early Wednesday that air defense systems were activated against drones near Qeshm Island, located near the contested Strait of Hormuz. Officials in the southern province of Hormozgan said in a statement that sounds of explosions were heard overnight around the island, reported Iranian state broadcaster IRIB. The statement said the explosions resulted from the activation of air defense systems against small drones and reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles. Authorities added that no damage to the island was reported. Social media accounts had circulated claims during the night about several explosions being heard on the island before any official statement on the incident. Regional tensions have escalated since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on Feb.

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  Spain urges EU to take steps to protect independence of ICC, UN, their actions to end Gaza genocide

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Spain’s prime minister on Wednesday called on the European Commission to take steps to protect the independence of the International Criminal Court and the UN, as well as their actions to end the genocide in Gaza, Anadolu Agency reports. “We ask the Commission to activate the Anti-Coercion Instrument, to protect the independence of the International Criminal Court and the United Nations, and their actions to end the genocide in Gaza,” Pedro Sanchez said on US social media company X. He said Spain will “not look the other way” and warned that sanctioning those who defend international justice places the human rights system at risk. The EU cannot remain a bystander “in the face of this persecution,” he added. The Israeli army

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  Moves by Abbas’s son revive debate over Palestinian leadership succession

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Speculation is growing within Palestinian political circles over the future leadership of Fatah and the Palestinian Authority amid increasing political activity by Yasser Abbas, the son of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. According to informed sources, Yasser Abbas, a businessman aged 64, is expected to seek a seat on Fatah’s 18-member Central Committee during the movement’s upcoming conference in Ramallah, scheduled for 14th–16th May. The gathering will be the first such conference held in nearly a decade. The developments come as questions continue over succession within the Palestinian leadership, with no clear successor emerging to the 90-year-old Abbas amid prolonged political stagnation and weakening institutional structures. READ: Fatah says 63% of Gaza now under Israeli control Yasser Abbas oversees business interests in

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  Fatah says 63% of Gaza now under Israeli control

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Fatah spokesperson Munther Al-Hayek said Israeli forces now control around 63 per cent of the Gaza Strip through expanding military zones and buffer areas. Speaking in a televised interview, Al-Hayek said the so-called “yellow line” established by Israel cuts through roughly 58 per cent of Gaza’s geographical area. He stated that northern and southern areas including Rafah and Beit Hanoun, as well as eastern sections of the territory extending two to three kilometres inward, are effectively under Israeli occupation and military control. According to Al-Hayek, these areas contain Israeli tanks, troops, military positions and earthen barriers, alongside extensive destruction. He added that Israel had implemented what he described as the “Gideon 2” plan in these zones. He also referred to

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  Archbishop Hanna warns of escalating Israeli attacks targeting Christians in Jerusalem

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Archbishop Atallah Hanna, the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Sebastia, has warned of escalating and systematic Israeli attacks against Christians in Jerusalem and across Palestine, saying clergy and places of worship are increasingly being targeted. In remarks published by Al Jazeera, Hanna said the attacks are not isolated incidents but part of a broader policy aimed at weakening the Palestinian presence in Jerusalem, including both Christians and Muslims. He said Israeli political discourse contributes to creating an atmosphere that fuels such attacks. His comments came after a French nun was assaulted in Jerusalem’s Old City in an incident captured on video and widely circulated online. Hanna described the attack as “brutal and barbaric”, saying the nun was attacked while returning to

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  Saudi Arabia condemns Khartoum airport attack, urges neighbours to respect Sudan’s sovereignty

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the attack targeting Khartoum International Airport and called on neighbouring countries to prevent their territories from being used to launch attacks against Sudan. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its support for Sudan’s unity, security and state institutions, stressing the importance of protecting civilian infrastructure and keeping it outside the conflict. The kingdom urged all parties to de-escalate and immediately halt violations, while adhering to the commitments outlined in the Jeddah Declaration and international humanitarian law. Saudi Arabia also called on Sudan’s neighbouring states to respect the country’s sovereignty and independence and ensure their territories are not used as bases for attacks. READ: Sudan accuses UAE and Ethiopia of involvement

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  Israeli forces bulldoze agricultural land southeast of Bethlehem

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Israeli forces have begun extensive bulldozing of Palestinian-owned agricultural land southeast of Bethlehem, according to the Al-Baydar Organisation. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the organisation said the operations are taking place along the main road extending from the Gush Etzion area through the towns of Tuqu’ and Al-Maniya to the village of Kisan. The group said the bulldozing is being carried out under the pretext of widening the road, but has directly damaged Palestinian agricultural land on both sides of the route. According to Al-Baydar, the works form part of ongoing measures that alter realities on the ground through the gradual seizure of farmland under infrastructure-related justifications, affecting agricultural property and land use in the area. The organisation warned

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  Sudan accuses UAE and Ethiopia of involvement in drone attack on Khartoum airport

  by MI on May 6, 2026

  Sudan has formally accused the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia of planning and carrying out a drone attack targeting Khartoum International Airport. The accusations follow a series of strikes that also targeted residential neighbourhoods and military sites, including the Signal Corps base in Khartoum North and the Al-Muraihat training centre in Omdurman. At a joint press conference, Sudanese Foreign Minister Mohi El-Din Salem and military spokesperson Assem Awad Abdel Wahab said the government possessed what they described as “conclusive evidence” showing the drones had been launched from Bahir Dar Airport. READ: Sudan recalls envoy to Ethiopia after drone attack accusation According to a statement carried by the Sudanese News Agency [SUNA], Sudan officially announced “the involvement of the United Arab Emirates

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  Iran denies attacking UAE, warns of ‘decisive response’ if strikes launched from its territory

  by MI on May 5, 2026

  Iran’s armed forces denied carrying out any missile or drone attacks against the United Arab Emirates in recent days, Iranian state media IRIB reported Tuesday. IRIB, citing a statement by a spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, said no such operations had been conducted, adding that any action would have been “clearly and officially announced.” The spokesman also rejected accusations by the UAE Defense Ministry as “baseless.” He warned that if any attack against Iran originates from the UAE territory, Tehran would respond with a “decisive and regret-inducing” retaliation. He also accused the UAE of allowing US and Israeli forces to operate from its territory, urging Emirati authorities not to become a base for what he described as hostile

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  Israeli army chief, air force commanders acknowledge October 2023 failure

  by MI on May 5, 2026

  Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the outgoing and new air force commanders acknowledged Tuesday that the military failed during the Oct. 7, 2023 events. The remarks came during a handover ceremony at Tel Nof Airbase in central Israel, where outgoing air force chief Tomer Bar transferred command to his successor Omer Tishler, according to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily and Channel 12. “On Oct. 7, this branch — like the entire Israeli military — failed in its mission to defend the state of Israel,” Zamir said. “This failure accompanies us daily and obliges us to take responsibility and investigate it.” Israeli officials consider what happened on Oct. 7, 2023 to be the biggest Israeli intelligence and military failure, which