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

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  Russia will not stand idle over Iran crisis, says foreign minister

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has warned that escalating tensions surrounding Iran could trigger a broader explosion across the Middle East, signalling that Moscow will not remain passive in the face of mounting instability. Speaking on Thursday, Lavrov described Iran as a close partner of Russia and said Moscow would not “stand idly by” amid “growing regional complexities”. He added that Russia is prepared to contribute to efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions between Israel, the United States and Iran. At the same time, Lavrov clarified that Moscow is not currently positioning itself as a formal mediator between Tel Aviv, Tehran and Washington, but is instead maintaining discussions and monitoring developments. READ: Putin receives Iran’s top security official Larijani at Kremlin

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  Former Israel PM met ousted Fatah leader Dahlan behind closed doors in UAE, Report

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Former Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert recently met former Fatah leader Mohammed Dahlan in Abu Dhabi, according to a report by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) on Thursday. The broadcaster said the meeting took place “away from the public eye”, without disclosing details of the agenda or issues discussed. Olmert declined to comment when contacted, the report added. Dahlan, a former senior figure in the Fatah movement, was expelled from the party in 2011 amid internal disputes. His name has periodically surfaced as a potential successor to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. In March 2025, Abbas announced a general amnesty for individuals expelled from Fatah, although it was unclear how this would affect Dahlan’s status. Dahlan was sentenced in

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  What is Israel planning for Palestinians in the West Bank?

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Israeli policies and measures directed at Palestinians in the West Bank have steadily intensified since the current right-wing government led by Benjamin Netanyahu came to power at the end of 2022. These policies became more explicit in the aftermath of the 7th October attacks the following year, and increasingly actionable with Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, a shift openly welcomed and endorsed by Netanyahu, members of his government, and their political base. While these measures are not detached from the structural policies that Israeli authorities have gradually entrenched in the West Bank over past decades, their recent evolution has brought them together into a coherent system. Taken as a whole, they outline Israel’s emerging vision for the future of

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  Houthi leader calls for solidarity marches for Palestine, says group is ready for next round with Israel

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the leader of Yemen’s Houthi movement, has called on Yemenis to take part in large public marches on Friday in support of the Palestinian people and in solidarity with what he described as their suffering caused by ongoing Israeli attacks. According to Yemen’s Saba news agency, al-Houthi said in a statement issued on Thursday that the call came in response to a request from Palestinians. He said Palestinians are facing killing, siege, abduction, forced displacement, destruction of homes and the abuse of detainees, which he described as ongoing violations of international agreements and guarantees. The statement said the marches reflect the firm public stance in Yemen in support of Palestinians, and readiness for what it described as

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  Egypt deploys thousands of medical staff to Rafah border as alert level raised

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Egypt has deployed thousands of medical professionals to its eastern border, including 12,000 doctors specialising in emergency and critical care, more than 18,000 nurses and 30 rapid response teams, the Ministry of Health and Population announced. The doctors, affiliated with the Central Administration for Emergency and Critical Care, have been placed on immediate standby to manage crises and provide rapid medical intervention in line with developments on the ground and the humanitarian situation at the border. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Population Khaled Abdel Ghaffar inspected operations at the Rafah border crossing and toured hospitals in North Sinai Governorate to assess preparedness for receiving wounded and injured arrivals from the Gaza Strip. During the visit, accompanied by

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  Somalia ratifies maritime cooperation agreement with Turkey

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Somalia’s federal cabinet has ratified a maritime cooperation agreement with Turkey, expanding bilateral ties in the transport and port sectors. The decision was taken during a regular meeting of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, where several reports and agreements were reviewed, according to the Somali National News Agency (SONNA). The cabinet approved a cooperation agreement between the Somali Federal Government and the Turkish government aimed at exchanging expertise in maritime transport. The date of the agreement’s signing was not disclosed. The deal covers the development of maritime trade, improved vessel traffic management, modernisation of port services, and mutual recognition of seafarers’ competency certificates. It also provides for technical cooperation, the exchange of expertise, equal access to port services and

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  Report: Turkey’s regional rapprochement seen in Israel as shifting geopolitical balance

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Israeli media have warned of the emergence of a “new axis” in the Middle East following Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visits to Egypt and Saudi Arabia and the signing of a series of cooperation agreements with both countries. The newspaper Yediot Aharonot reported that Erdogan arrived in Cairo on Wednesday for an official visit, a day after travelling to Riyadh, signalling a “marked improvement” in Ankara’s relations with the two Arab capitals. The paper said the development comes at a time when prospects for normalisation between Israel and Saudi Arabia appear to be declining and Israeli-Egyptian relations are facing noticeable strain. The report cited Dr Galia Lindstrauss, a senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), as

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  IRGC deploys long-range Khorramshahr-4 missile, Fars reports

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Iran has announced the deployment of one of its newest long-range ballistic missiles, the Khorramshahr-4, in what it described as underground “missile cities”, according to the semi-official Fars News Agency. Fars reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled the missile during a ceremony at a newly revealed underground facility belonging to the IRGC Aerospace Force. The missile, also known as “Khaibar”, was presented as a central element of Iran’s strategic missile capabilities. According to the agency, its deployment in fortified underground sites signals not only a technical development but also operational and strategic implications amid “growing threats” to the country’s national security. Fars said the Khorramshahr-4 has a reported range of around 2,000 kilometres and is capable of

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  Palestinians returning to Gaza via Rafah crossing report mistreatment, humiliation: UN

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Palestinians returning to the Gaza Strip through the recently reopened Rafah crossing have reported a repeated pattern of mistreatment, abuse and humiliation by Israeli military forces, the UN human rights office said, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) said returnees stated that they were taken after crossing by armed Palestinians allegedly backed by the Israeli army to an Israeli military checkpoint. According to the accounts, some of those armed individuals bound returnees, blindfolded them, searched them, threatened and intimidated them, and stole personal belongings and money. Upon arrival at the Israeli checkpoint, returnees described a pattern of violence, degrading interrogations and invasive body searches that violated their privacy. In some cases,

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  Mandelson: Trapped in the Epstein web

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Jeffrey Epstein certainly got around.  He moved virally, galloping through the cells of the establishment.  What was more, he was permitted to.  Dead and buried, the financier, convicted paedophile, sex trafficker, eugenics follower, and the man all in power would want to know, continues to ruin reputations, casting doubt on many relationships, and stirring investigations into his correspondents. Much of this damage is emanating from that noxious font of revelation, despair and disgrace hosted by the US Department of Justice, entitled the Epstein Library.  As a result of these 3.5 million files or so, Noam Chomsky, saint of the progressive Left, may well find himself the poorer for his foolish correspondence sneering at “the hysteria that has developed about abuse

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  Hebrew media: Washington drops demand to negotiate with Iran on ballistic missiles, proxies

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  The Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported, citing a source described as knowledgeable about Middle East affairs, that the United States and Iran have agreed to limit the talks scheduled for Friday to Iran’s nuclear programme only. The source said Washington accepted Iran’s conditions after mediation by regional countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman. He warned that Iran is ready for a regional conflict if its conditions for the negotiation framework are rejected. The United States has not issued any official statement confirming whether it has stepped back from its earlier demand to include other issues, such as Iran’s ballistic missile programme and the activities of its regional allies. The source added that regional states “do not want a domineering neighbour,

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  Netanyahu warns over growing Egyptian army capabilities despite strong ties, major gas deal

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned on Thursday about the growing capabilities of the Egyptian army and called for preventing an “excessive build-up” of military power, according to Hebrew media reports. The comments were made during a closed discussion at the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, the newspaper Israel Hayom reported. Sources who attended the meeting were quoted as saying that Netanyahu stated: “The Egyptian army is building its strength, and this needs to be monitored.” He added: “We have a relationship with Egypt, but we must prevent an excessive accumulation of military power.” According to the sources, Netanyahu’s remarks came in the context of discussing the sensitivity of relations with Egypt. The newspaper noted that despite these concerns,

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  Iranian TV says 2 foreign oil tankers seized in Gulf

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Iran’s state television reported on Thursday that Iran has seized two foreign oil tankers in the Gulf, claiming the vessels were smuggling fuel. The report did not give details about the tankers’ nationality or the flags they were flying. General Heydar Honarian-Mojarrad, commander of the second naval zone of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said the two tankers were carrying around one million litres of fuel (about 6,300 barrels), including diesel. He said the vessels were seized near Farsi Island and taken to the port of Bushehr. Mojarrad added that 15 crew members from the two tankers are now “in the custody of judicial authorities”, without giving their nationalities. Iran has at times seized oil-carrying vessels in the region on

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  Iran does not want the US to hit them: Trump

  by Marwa A on February 5, 2026

  Iran does not want the US to attack the country, President Donald Trump said Thursday, Anadolu reports. “They don’t want us to hit them,” Trump said at the 74th annual national prayer breakfast. “They’re negotiating,” he added. On the US military buildup in the region, he said: “You know, we have a big fleet going over to Iran.” Trump’s remarks came ahead of indirect nuclear talks set to be held between Iran and the US in Oman’s capital Muscat on Friday. READ: Israel prepares for possible Houthi attacks if US strikes Iran, report says

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  Illegal settlers uproot hundreds of olive trees, assault Palestinians across occupied West Bank

  by Marwa A on February 5, 2026

  Illegal Israeli settlers carried out coordinated attacks across several areas of the occupied West Bank on Thursday, uprooting hundreds of olive trees, assaulting Palestinian civilians and shepherds, and storming villages under the protection of the Israeli army, Palestinian sources said, Anadolu reports. In the northern Ramallah and al-Bireh governorate, illegal settlers uprooted around 300 olive trees in the town of Turmus Ayya. Local sources told Anadolu that the attack targeted agricultural land and the home of a Palestinian family in the town’s plain area, which has been repeatedly subjected to settler assaults. In northeastern Ramallah, groups of illegal settlers stormed the village of al-Mughayyir, where they attacked the southern part of the village and assaulted residents while they were grazing

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  Israeli airstrikes hit several areas in Lebanon amid continued ceasefire violations

  by Marwa A on February 5, 2026

  Israeli warplanes carried out airstrikes on several areas in southern and eastern Lebanon on Thursday, in the latest violation of a ceasefire deal in effect since November 2024, Lebanese media reported, Anadolu reports. The state news agency NNA said an Israeli airstrike targeted the al-Wazaniyeh area near Khallat Khazem in the Jabal al-Reihan region in southern Lebanon. Lebanese media also reported an Israeli airstrike on mountainous areas surrounding the city of Hermel in eastern Lebanon’s Bekaa region. Local outlets published footage showing plumes of smoke rising from the targeted areas, while reports said Israeli aircraft continued to fly at low altitude over parts of the country following the strikes. The Israeli army claimed that the attacks hits Hezbollah targets in

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  Israel bulldozed Gaza war cemetery containing graves of British, Australian and allied soldiers

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  The graves of British, Australian and other allied soldiers killed during the First and Second World Wars have been destroyed by Israel in Gaza, satellite images and local testimony confirm. The desecration occurred at the Gaza War Cemetery in Al-Tuffah, Gaza City, a site maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), where over 3,000 Commonwealth servicemen are buried or commemorated.  New satellite images show systematic destruction in the cemetery’s southwestern section, where the graves of Australian soldiers were located. Topsoil has been stripped, rows of gravestones removed, and a large earth berm now dominates the area, clearly shaped by heavy machinery. The destruction did not exist in March 2023 satellite records, but appears visibly in imagery from August and

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  Limited humanitarian aid enters Gaza under inhumane Israeli blockade

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  A limited number of humanitarian aid trucks entered the Gaza Strip on Thursday through the Kerem Abu Salem crossing, escorted by United Nations vehicles. The delivery comes amid continued warnings from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which said Israel has blocked its humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since March 2025, leaving life-saving supplies stranded in neighboring countries. The UNRWA said its humanitarian shipments, including food, hygiene kits, medicines and shelter items, remain stored in warehouses in Egypt and Jordan and have not been allowed into Gaza for months. “UNRWA’s humanitarian supplies — food, hygiene kits, medicines and shelter items — remain stuck in warehouses in Egypt and Jordan, banned from entering Gaza since March

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  Global Sumud aid flotilla to set sail again for war-torn Gaza from Barcelona on March 29

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  The Global Sumud aid flotilla plans to set sail again for war-torn Gaza from Barcelona on March 29 with broader international participation, according to an announcement on Thursday, Anadolu reports. “The departure will be at the initial historic departure from Barcelona, followed by Tunisia, Italy, and other Mediterranean ports, and we will sail this time at the date of March, the 29th,” Global Sumud activist Sumeyra Akdeniz Ordu told a livestreamed news conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. “We will sail with, this time, thousands of participants, including more than a thousand doctors, nurses, health professionals … We will have medical professionals with us. We will have eco-builders with us. We will have war crimes investigators with us, which is the difference

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  FBI document: Epstein trained as spy under Ehud Barak and worked for Mossad

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Jeffrey Epstein “was close to the former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak, and trained as a spy under him,” according to a 2020 FBI document based on direct reporting from a confidential human source (CHS). The revelation adds further weight to long-circulating allegations that Epstein, a convicted child sex trafficker, was compiling Kompromat on behalf of Mossad. The document, dated 19 October 2020, details conversations in which the source, who had personal contact with figures in Epstein’s circle, outlines how Epstein was involved in intelligence activity coordinated with Mossad. The CHS recounts multiple phone calls between Alan Dershowitz — Epstein’s lawyer and Harvard law professor — and Epstein. Following these calls, the document states, Mossad would call Dershowitz to

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  One meeting, one shift: Indonesia’s Muslim organisations change course on the Board of Peace

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Indonesia’s presidential palace hosted what looked less like a policy consultation this week and more like a ritual of elite submission. President Prabowo Subianto summoned leaders of the country’s most influential Muslim organisations to discuss Indonesia’s participation in the United States backed Board of Peace. For nearly four hours, senior clerics and organisational chiefs listened to the president outline his reasoning. When they walked out, the verdict was swift. They supported the plan. They trusted the assurances. They echoed the language of independence. If Muslim organisations want to support Prabowo’s commitment to Palestine, they should inspect the substance before offering legitimacy. Instead, they appeared ready to fall into line. This matters because the Board of Peace is not some harmless

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  No international reaction to Israel’s admission of killing over 70,000 in Gaza

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  The international community ought to be acknowledged for its role in blotting out the meaning of genocide since October 2023. Without global complicity, the Geneva Convention’s definition of genocide would have retained its relevance. Instead, as Israel killed Palestinians, world leaders dismissed Palestinian voices calling out the genocide. What veneer would have suited Israel better for its constant denial of its kill toll in Gaza? As diplomats celebrated the ceasefire announcement, violated hundreds of times since by Israel, genocide was no longer the international community’s concern. The ceasefire cancelled genocide in diplomatic circles. When the UN Security Council passed the resolution which granted the US exclusive dominance over Gaza, the ceasefire was no longer a burden to observe. As talk

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  The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and the Return of the Near East

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Is Greece the new rising Middle Eastern power that nobody is talking about? Sean Mathews’ The New Byzantines: The Rise of Greece and Return of the Near East makes the bold case that the Hellenic state is reembracing its Middle Eastern roots and is an emerging power who is playing a crucial role in dealing with a ‘revisionist’ Turkyie, America’s wavering commitment to NATO, Israel’s search for new allies and throwing its weight behind Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Mathews makes interesting arguments about why Athens is a growing regional power; however, some of the reasons he cites that account for the rise also risk stalling it and it may be the case that we will look back on this

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  One Palestinian state on all of Palestine is not the best solution, it is the only one

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  All successful liberation movements in history had a clear vision of what constituted liberation. The Vietnamese National Liberation Front set the objective of driving the US army out of their land and establishing one socialist state. The French resistance was not content with driving the German army out but aimed to dismantle the Nazi state. The African National Congress centered its efforts on dismantling apartheid while allowing white South Africans to remain. The Algerian National Liberation Front set out conditions under which French settlers would be allowed to remain after liberation. One thing they all had in common: A single state over all of the land, through which society itself—not foreign forces—could determine its future. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

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  Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 2 Feb

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  MEMO spoke to Motasem A Dalloul, a survivor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, in the first of a new series of regular updates from the ground. Dalloul describes the daily struggle to survive: hunger, cold, the collapse of healthcare, and ongoing Israeli violations despite the so-called ceasefire. WATCH: Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 26 Jan

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  Hamas says Israeli escalation is continuation of ‘war of extermination’ in Gaza

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Hamas said Israeli escalation through intensified bombardment across the Gaza Strip, which it said killed more than 20 civilians including children and a paramedic, constitutes a direct continuation of the war of extermination and aggression. In a statement, Hamas said the escalation reflects the premeditated intentions of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to obstruct implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, particularly by preventing the opening of the Rafah crossing. The movement rejected Israeli claims that a shooting incident targeting one of its soldiers triggered the escalation, describing them as a pretext to justify continued killing and aggression against Palestinians. Hamas said the actions amount to an attempt to impose a permanent reality of repression and terror in

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  UN says 8.1 million women in Sudan will need reproductive health services in 2026

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  The United Nations has warned that 8.1 million women and girls of reproductive age in Sudan will require urgent reproductive health services in 2026, amid the continued collapse of the country’s health system. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the World Health Organization said around 1.1 million births are expected this year, at a time when health facilities across Sudan are struggling to function due to conflict, displacement and shortages of supplies and staff. According to figures cited by the Sudan Tribune, some 33.7 million people in Sudan will need humanitarian assistance this year, including 7.4 million internally displaced persons. UN agencies have warned that a severe funding crisis has forced them to scale back aid to the most vulnerable

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  Egypt and Turkey sign framework military agreement in Cairo

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Egypt and Turkey signed a military cooperation agreement in Cairo on Wednesday, in the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The signing took place after talks between the two leaders in the Egyptian capital, during which several cooperation agreements were concluded. The most prominent was described as a “framework military agreement” between the two governments. The agreement was signed by Egypt’s Minister of Defence, Lieutenant General Abdel Meguid Saqr, and Turkey’s Minister of Defence, Yaşar Güler. Earlier in the day, Sisi and Erdogan co-chaired the second meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council between Egypt and Turkey, at the conclusion of which the two presidents signed a joint statement. Erdogan was received by

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  Israel charges 12 people, including soldiers, with smuggling goods into Gaza

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Israel’s Ministry of Justice said on Wednesday that it has charged 12 people, including Israeli soldiers, with systematically smuggling goods worth hundreds of thousands of US dollars into Gaza, according to a statement from the Israeli Attorney General. The indictment said that some of the accused, including army reservists, smuggled cigarettes, iPhones and batteries into Gaza and were also charged with “aiding the enemy during wartime”. The statement said the suspects acted while knowing that the goods could reach Hamas and its members. It also linked the brother of the head of Israel’s internal security service (Shabak, also known as Shin Bet) to the smuggling network, although the agency chief’s name was not among those charged. In recent weeks, local

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  Israeli settlers attack school in Jordan Valley as terror

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Israeli Settlers attacked Al-Tahaddi School in the Ibziq area, north of Tubas in the northern Jordan Valley, on Wednesday. They destroyed school property and dug up the road leading to it, in an attempt to prevent students and teachers from reaching the school. Azmi Blawneh, director of education in Tubas, said this is the second attack of its kind on the school by settlers. He added that the settlers stole teaching tools and materials, damaged water, electricity, and internet networks, and blocked the road with stones and excavation works. Blawneh noted that the northern Jordan Valley is facing a fierce settler campaign aimed at undermining the Palestinian presence and depriving residents of their natural right to live on their land.

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  The “Donkey Flights” Project: Saving Animals While Strangling Gaza

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  While Gaza’s human population remains trapped behind concrete walls and fire, a curious “evacuation” is taking place. Under the banner of the “Donkey Flights Project,” an Israeli organization named Starting Over Sanctuary has been working with the IDF to collect, “rehabilitate,” and export Gaza’s donkeys to sanctuaries in France and Belgium. To the Western donor, it is a heartwarming tale of saving the innocent from “slavery” and abuse. But to the Gazans whose hospitals, ambulances, and fuel supplies have been pulverized, the removal of these animals is the final act of a scorched-earth policy. The irony is as thick as the smoke over Khan Younis: the very soldiers who facilitate the “rescue” of these pack animals are the same ones

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  UN rapporteur says Israel has no authority over Palestinians and urges end to impunity

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  The UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, Francesca Albanese, said on Wednesday that Israel has no legal authority to enforce its laws on Palestinians living under occupation. In a post on the X platform, Albanese questioned Israel’s conduct towards Palestinians, asking: “How then can it torture them to death by hanging?!” She called on UN member states to take decisive action to end the “culture of impunity” led by Israel, warning that continued inaction risks the collapse of the entire international legal system. Since October 2023, Israeli occupation forces have committed genocide, siege and starvation crimes in the Gaza Strip, resulting in the killing of 71,824 Palestinian civilians — the

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  Gaza amputee football team names Pep Guardiola honorary coach

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  The “Gaza of Will” amputee football team in the Gaza Strip has named Pep Guardiola, manager of Manchester City, as its honorary coach, citing his support for the Palestinian people. In a video shared by the team, players were seen holding a photograph of Guardiola as the team’s captain announced the decision. “Guardiola is the honorary coach of the Gaza of Will team,” he said, thanking the Spanish coach for his humanitarian positions and his solidarity with Palestinians, particularly those in Gaza. The team said the honour was awarded in recognition of Guardiola’s public support for the Palestinian cause and his continued expressions of solidarity amid the severe humanitarian conditions facing Gaza. Guardiola has previously voiced support for Palestinians during

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  Former Iraqi parliament speaker rejects Maliki’s nomination for prime minister

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  “Mohammed al-Halbousi, leader of the Taqaddum Party and former Speaker of the Iraqi parliament, has renewed his rejection of the nomination put forward by the Shiite Coordination Framework for Nouri al-Maliki to form Iraq’s new government.” In an interview with Dijlah Television, Halbousi said that Iraqis had a “bitter experience” with Maliki. He added that Iraq needs a Shiite candidate for prime minister who is open to partners and to Iraq’s Arab surroundings, stressing that the Shiite community has many alternatives. Halbousi said the country has not overcome the problems of the Maliki era even after ten years. He added that Iraq needs a figure with strong links to the international community and the Arab region, noting that Maliki has

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  Israel prepares for possible Houthi attacks if US strikes Iran, report says

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Israel is preparing for the possibility that Yemen’s Houthi movement could resume missile and drone attacks against it if the United States carries out a military strike on Iran, according to an Israeli media report. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (Kan) reported that security officials assess the Houthis would join a direct confrontation between Washington and Tehran, fighting alongside Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. According to Kan, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has held special consultations in recent days to assess the Houthi threat. He reportedly instructed the army’s Command to prepare and revalidate a target bank in Yemen, in coordination with the Military Intelligence Directorate and the Air Force. In a related development, Kan Radio reported on

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  Israel cuts water, electricity to UNRWA headquarters in Jerusalem

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Israeli authorities cut off water and electricity to the headquarters of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in East Jerusalem on Wednesday. Israel’s Energy Minister, Eli Cohen, said on Wednesday evening that he personally oversaw the move. In a post on X, he wrote: “In words and in actions, I shut off the tap on UNRWA.” Cohen said he arrived at the UNRWA headquarters on Wednesday morning and found that the electricity had already been cut. He added that he also ordered the water supply to be shut off. He said: “There is no place for UNRWA in the State of Israel,” claiming that the agency had been “an executive arm of Hamas”. Earlier on Wednesday,

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  Israeli admission accuses Ben Gvir of fuelling chaos among Arab citizens

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  As the countdown to Israel’s elections continues, assessments are growing that chaos inside the political system is increasing, marked by noise and misinformation that could ultimately lead to the state collapsing from within. Shiriel Hovij, a co-founder of the Kumu (Get Up) movement and a performance improvement expert working with Israeli and international companies, said that while National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir is busy chasing surveillance cameras and posting videos on TikTok, criminal organisations are thriving because of an administrative vacuum. He said this vacuum has been created by a government that has replaced dealing with the root causes of problems with hollow public relations shows. According to Hovij, the main aim is to weaken Israelis, break their morale, and

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  Addis and Riyadh reaffirm priorities at a critical regional moment

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Across the Red Sea, history has always travelled faster than politics. Long before borders, treaties or modern diplomacy, the Horn of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula were bound by faith, trade and survival. Today, as global power fractures and regional orders are rewritten, that ancient corridor is again becoming one of the most consequential strategic spaces on earth.  At its centre sit Ethiopia and Saudi Arabia—two states shaped by deep history, demographic weight and civilisational confidence, now cautiously rediscovering one another in a moment that could redefine the future of the Horn of Africa and its relationship with the Gulf. The Red Sea carries close to 15 per cent of global trade and nearly a third of the world’s container

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  Israel invents claims to justify targeting medics: Gaza Civil Defence

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  The General Directorate of Civil Defence in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday denied claims by the Israeli army that an ambulance was used to “transport Palestinian fighters”, saying the allegations are completely false. In a press statement, the directorate said that ambulances have never been used by any armed groups. It explained that the people shown in footage released by Israel were members of the civil police carrying their personal weapons. They were carrying out their duties by helping to clear the way for ambulances while wounded people were being transported, not as Israel has claimed. The directorate stressed that Israel deliberately fabricates images and selectively edits video clips in an attempt to mislead public opinion and justify its ongoing

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  Entries now open for the 15th annual Palestine Book Awards

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Middle East Monitor (MEMO) is pleased to announce the opening of submissions for the Palestine Book Awards 2026, marking the Awards’ 15th consecutive year of celebrating outstanding literature on Palestine. Publishers, authors, and members of the public are invited to submit eligible titles for consideration across a range of categories, including Academic, Translation, Creative, Memoir, and Social History. At a time of continued global attention on Palestine, the Palestine Book Awards remain a vital platform for amplifying Palestinian voices, histories, and lived experiences. Through this annual celebration of books and scholarship, MEMO seeks to recognise works that contribute meaningfully to understanding Palestine, challenge dominant narratives, and preserve its cultural and political history. To be eligible, books must be written in

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  On the menu: How the middle powers sacrificed Gaza to save themselves

  by MI on February 5, 2026

  Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney sounded more like a populist leader than a former central banker during his address at the World Economic Forum in Davos on 20 January. Bemoaning the “fading” of the rules-based order, Carney delivered a surprisingly blunt speech. “The old order is not coming back,” he declared. “We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.” In this new reality, he warned, quoting Thucydides, “the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.” The ‘revolutionary’ rhetoric did not stop there. Carney called for “strategic autonomy” for middle powers, warning that “if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.” He insisted that the West could no longer

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  Morocco evacuates over 100,000 people from 4 provinces after floods

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  Morocco evacuated more than 100,000 people from four provinces after flash floods swept several areas, the Interior Ministry said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Authorities carried out a phased evacuation of residents from multiple municipalities based on risk levels and expected damage while providing transportation for those affected, the ministry said in a statement. As of Wednesday morning, a total of 108,423 people have been evacuated across four provinces, it added. Heavy rainfall in recent days caused flooding in several northern regions, prompting ongoing evacuation and rescue operations. The ministry said about 81,709 people were evacuated in Larache province, mainly in the city of Ksar el-Kebir, while 9,728 were evacuated in Sidi Kacem province, 2,853 in Sidi Slimane province and 14,133 in

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  Red Cross ‘outraged’ over killing of Palestinian paramedic in Gaza

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Wednesday said it is “outraged” by the killing of a Palestinian paramedic during a humanitarian mission in southern Gaza, calling the death a violation of protections for medical and aid workers, Anadolu reports. Hussein Hassan Hussein Al-Samiri, a paramedic with the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS), was killed while performing life-saving duties in Khan Younis during an attack in the Al-Mawasi area on Wednesday, the organization said in a statement. Extending condolences to his family, friends and colleagues, the IFRC expressed “full solidarity” with the PRCS. “Humanitarian workers and medical personnel must be respected and protected at all times to ensure life-saving assistance can reach people in need,”

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  Hind Rajab Foundation files criminal complaint against former Israeli soldier for war crimes in Gaza

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  The Hind Rajab Foundation on Wednesday filed a complaint in the US seeking a criminal investigation into war crimes and genocidal acts by Adi Karni, a former Israeli army sergeant, during Israel’s war on Gaza, Anadolu reports. “This U.S. filing follows earlier complaints filed by HRF in multiple jurisdictions, including Peru, where a formal criminal investigation is already open against Karni for genocide,” the foundation said in a statement. It added that the HRF has also submitted filings concerning Karni in several other countries, “as part of its strategy to ensure that jurisdiction is activated wherever he travels.” HRF said Karni is currently present in the US and is scheduled to speak publicly at Boston University this evening, “a fact

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  Syrian president meets US envoy in Damascus to discuss regional developments

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa met Wednesday in Damascus with a US delegation led by special envoy Tom Barrack to discuss recent regional developments and issues of mutual interest, the presidency said, Anadolu reports. The meeting took place at the People’s Palace in the capital and was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, it added in a statement. The statement did not provide further details on the agenda or outcomes of the talks. Earlier, Barrack said that Syria “continues to impress with its social fabric vertically and horizontally, under the leadership of Sharaa,” according to Alikhbariah TV. READ: Syria signs MoU with Chevron, Qatari firm to explore oil, gas offshore His comments came during the signing of a memorandum of understanding

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  Israeli army damages Palestinian school in West Bank raid

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  Israeli army forces raided a school on Wednesday in the northern West Bank, damaging its facilities, seizing equipment and blocking access, the Palestinian Education Ministry said, Anadolu reports. A ministry statement said that Israeli forces stormed al-Tahaddi School–Ibziq, which is run by the Tubas Education Directorate, and destroyed its campus for the second time. The forces closed the road leading to the school, confiscated educational tools and materials, and destroyed water, electricity and internet networks, the ministry said. Israeli authorities often target Palestinian structures in the occupied West Bank on the grounds that they were built without permits. On Tuesday, illegal Israeli settlers attacked al-Malih Coeducational Basic School in the Tubas governorate. The ministry also said Israeli forces impeded students’

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  Turkiye, Egypt working together on Gaza peace efforts, Libya stability, says President Erdogan

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  Turkiye and Egypt are working together on efforts for peace in Gaza as well as stability in neighboring Libya, said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. “Turkiye is working with Egypt on initiatives to make peace in Gaza possible and will continue these efforts,” Erdogan told a joint press conference in Cairo with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. “Our shared objective with Egypt continues to be the preservation of Libya’s unity and territorial integrity to establish lasting stability in the country,” he added. Noting that Egypt is already Turkiye’s largest trade partner in Africa, Erdogan said Ankara aims to boost the bilateral trade volume from $8-9 billion to $15 billion. “Turkiye wants to enhance its cooperation with

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  UN experts urge Israel to withdraw proposed mandatory death penalty bill

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  UN human rights experts on Wednesday urged Israel to withdraw a proposed bill introducing mandatory death sentences for certain terrorist acts, warning it would violate international law and disproportionately target Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian territory, Anadolu reports. “Mandatory death sentences are contrary to the right to life. By removing judicial and prosecutorial discretion, they prevent a court from considering the individual circumstances, including mitigating factors, and from imposing a proportionate sentence that fits the crime,” the experts said. According to the statement, the bill creates two tracks. In the occupied West Bank, military courts would impose the death penalty for acts causing death, even if unintended. In Israel and occupied East Jerusalem, it would apply only to the “intentional

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  Saudi Arabia launches ‘camel passport project’ to regulate sector

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  Saudi Arabia has launched a project to issue passports for camels, in a move seen as a “qualitative step” to regulate the sector and strengthen the kingdom’s credibility in local and international markets, the government said on Wednesday, Anadolu reports. A statement by the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture said Deputy Minister Mansour bin Hilal Al-Mushaiti inaugurated the camel passport project Tuesday evening. The initiative is designed to organize the camel sector, document identity and improve service efficiency while enhancing market trust domestically and internationally, the ministry said. The project seeks to record camels’ data, ownership and breeds and link them to verified health and regulatory information, making the passport an officially recognized reference that supports more efficient

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  Syria signs MoU with Chevron, Qatari firm to explore oil, gas offshore

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  Syria signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with US oil firm Chevron and Qatar-based Power International Holding to explore for oil and natural gas in Syrian territorial waters, Anadolu reports. During the signing ceremony, Youssef Qablawi, CEO of the Syrian Petroleum Company, said the importance of the memorandums lies in their role in strengthening the national economy, Alikhbariah TV reported. A dedicated team has been assigned to support the agreement with the aim of turning it into a binding contract, Qablawi said. Oil wells in Syria had been subjected to sabotage before coming under state control during a military operation against the terrorist organization YPG/SDF in the northeastern provinces of Raqqa and Deir el-Zour, he added. US special envoy