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

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  Surge in miscarriage in Gaza raises alarm over genocide through preventing births

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  A senior Palestinian medical official has warned that 3,958 miscarriages were recorded in the Gaza Strip during the first half of 2026, describing the figure as an “unprecedented” increase as Israel’s genocide continues to devastate maternal and reproductive healthcare. Dr Bassam Zaqout, director of the Palestinian Medical Relief Society in Gaza, attributed the rise to the severe conditions imposed on pregnant women, including repeated displacement, unsafe transport over damaged roads, inadequate shelter, poor sanitation and continuing fear caused by Israeli attacks. 300% spike in miscarriages: no safe pregnancies in Gaza as Israel’s assault continues, HRW report finds Zaqout also highlighted the absence of hot water and hygiene products, the spread of disease in overcrowded displacement camps and the lack of

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  New UK defence secretary stands by Israel war crimes remarks

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  Britain’s new Defence Secretary Wes Streeting on Wednesday defended his previous remarks accusing Israel of committing war crimes, saying he would not distance himself from comments already on the record, Anadolu reports. Speaking to journalists at the Farnborough International Airshow, Streeting said Israel must be judged by the same standards applied to Britain and its other allies, while maintaining that the country had the right to defend itself. Asked whether he still stood by his past remarks that Israel had committed war crimes now that he was defence secretary, Streeting said he was not distancing himself from those comments. “I have expressed very clearly my concerns about Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank.. My comments are there. They

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  Israel begins digging crocodile trenches around prison wing holding Hamas members

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  Trenches intended to hold crocodiles are being dug around a high-security wing of a prison in southern Israel housing Hamas members, according to an Israeli media report on Wednesday. The trenches are being dug around the Ketziot prison and will extend about 170 meters, daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. A local official from the Ramat Negev Regional Council, where the prison is located, said the trenches are being dug inside the prison around one of its special wings and cannot be seen from outside. “No one knows if there will actually be crocodiles there, but preparations are being made,” the unnamed official was quoted as saying. The Israeli National Security Ministry also confirmed the start of work on channels designated for

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  Oslo on the Strait of Hormuz

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  The most successful peace processes are often those that allow the stronger party to continue the war under diplomatic cover. Bombs fall. Ports close. Civilians die. Then diplomats appear before polished lecterns to announce that dialogue remains “constructive.” Constructive for whom is never explained. Not for those beneath the aircraft. Not for the states ordered to negotiate while under attack. But extremely constructive for empire, which has perfected the art of converting aggression into procedure and coercion into statesmanship. The emerging American-Iranian “peace process” belongs to this tradition of organised fraud. A Pakistan-brokered, 14-point memorandum was presented as a path toward ending hostilities, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, suspending attacks, and negotiating a durable settlement. Within weeks, the United States

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  New York City mayor calls Netanyahu ‘war criminal,’ urges US to enforce ICC arrest warrant

  by Mehdi Editor on July 22, 2026

  New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a “war criminal” and urged the US government to enforce an arrest warrant against him by the International Criminal Court (ICC) if he enters the US, Anadolu reports. “Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people,” Mamdani said in a video message Tuesday posted on the US social media platform X. He accused Netanyahu of being responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, targeting hospitals, and blocking food and humanitarian aid from reaching people in need in the Gaza Strip. Mamdani said that the US bears responsibility because, he said, “we, as Americans, pay for the bombs that do the

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  Daughter of Tunisian opposition figure raises concerns over prison conditions, says Rached Ghannouchi fainted

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  Haifa Chebbi, daughter of imprisoned Tunisian opposition politician Ahmed Najib Chebbi, has expressed concern over detention conditions at Mornaguia Prison, saying she witnessed Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Ennahda Movement, faint due to extreme heat. In a video statement released after visiting her father, Chebbi described the conditions inside the prison as extremely difficult, particularly amid high summer temperatures. She urged Tunisia’s political class and civil society to move beyond expressions of solidarity on social media and take what she described as meaningful action. Chebbi said she visited her father alongside Abdelhamid Jelassi and Ziad Hani, adding that she left the prison feeling distressed by what she had witnessed. According to her account, temperatures reached 52 degrees Celsius, and she

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  Amal Movement official says no settlement is possible without full Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  A senior official in Lebanon’s Amal Movement said on Tuesday that any lasting settlement in southern Lebanon must include a complete Israeli withdrawal from Lebanese territory and the reconstruction of areas damaged during the conflict. Sheikh Hassan Abdullah, the Amal Movement’s central cultural official and the Mufti of Tyre and Jabal Amel, said the current phase requires greater dialogue among Lebanon’s political factions to reach a unified national position. Speaking during a memorial ceremony in the town of Bnaafoul, Abdullah called on Lebanese authorities to “open the door to discussion and dialogue among the various Lebanese factions” to strengthen national unity, which he described as the foundation of Lebanon’s strength. He said defending Lebanon against Israeli aggression is a national

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  Khaled Meshaal pledges support for new Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  Khaled Meshaal, head of Hamas abroad, has pledged his support for Dr Khalil al-Hayya following his election as head of the movement’s political bureau, calling for unity during what he described as a critical period for the Palestinian people. In a statement issued on Tuesday, Meshaal congratulated al-Hayya on his election by Hamas’ General Shura Council, expressing hope that he would be granted success in leading the movement. Meshaal said the current circumstances require all efforts to be united in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, adding that members of the movement should work together to assist the population and pursue what he described as their national objectives. He said the internal election was conducted in accordance with Hamas’

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  Trump wants to nominate FIFA chief for UN secretary-general: Report

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump wants FIFA President Gianni Infantino to be the next secretary-general of the UN, the New York Post reported Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Citing a source close to Trump, the Post reported that the president believes that Infantino “is respected by everyone around the world, and recognises he has a special ability to bring people together.” Infantino, 56, developed close ties with Trump during this year’s World Cup, with the Swiss-born FIFA president making repeated efforts to court the US leader, including presenting him with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize in December, the report said. A successor to current UN chief Antonio Guterres will serve a five-year term beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Under Article 97 of the UN Charter,

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  Iranian President says Supreme Leader called for end to “neither war nor peace” state as Pakistan pursues mediation efforts

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Tuesday that all major decisions in Iran are made in accordance with the directives of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, adding that communication between the two has increased in recent weeks. Speaking during the National Industry and Mining Day ceremony, Pezeshkian said Khamenei had stressed in private meetings the need to end what he described as the state of “neither war nor peace.” The president said Iran’s negotiating position included reopening the Strait of Hormuz to oil exports and addressing other key issues. He also accused the United States of failing to honour its commitments. Pezeshkian further alleged that the United States was waging what he described as a “comprehensive war” aimed at creating internal

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  Burnham and Al-Turabi: The surprise of decentralisation in politics

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  In politics, comparisons are not necessarily about drawing parallels. Rather, they are a way of exploring how ideas separated by geography and ideology can converge around the same fundamental question. Perhaps one of the most surprising comparisons is that between Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham and the late Sudanese Islamic thinker Dr Hassan Al-Turabi. It is difficult to imagine two figures from more contrasting worlds: the former emerged from Britain’s Labour tradition, shaped by the norms of liberal democracy; the latter was one of the leading theorists of political Islam in the twentieth century, whose intellectual and political journey unfolded in a country that has rarely enjoyed lasting stability. History, however, shows that ideas do not recognise geographical boundaries, and

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  IRGC claims Pentagon is underreporting US military losses in Jordan

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Tuesday that the US Department of Defence (Pentagon) is concealing the true number of US military casualties resulting from attacks on American forces in Jordan. In a statement, the IRGC alleged that the number of US service members killed in the attacks was higher than the figures publicly announced by the United States. The statement further claimed that the Pentagon was covering up losses sustained during attacks on a US military base in Jordan, which it said resulted in the deaths of a significant number of American personnel. The claims could not be independently verified. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), two US soldiers were killed and a third was reported missing

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  Trump says 18 US troops killed during war with Iran

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that 18 American troops have been killed during the war involving the United States and Israel against Iran. In a post on social media, Trump wrote: “Military conflict with Iran: four months and 18 dead.” Earlier, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said two US soldiers were killed and a third was missing in Jordan on Friday while responding to Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. The US military also announced on Sunday that one American soldier was killed and another suffered minor injuries while disposing of munitions from an Iranian drone in northern Iraq. The United States has carried out repeated waves of strikes on targets inside Iran in recent days, while Tehran has

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  Houthis say ships forced to change course after Saudi shipping ban

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  Yemen’s Houthi movement said on Tuesday that it had forced several ships to change course in the Red Sea after threatening vessels linked to Saudi Arabia. The Houthi-run Saba news agency said six ships in the Red Sea had been forced to alter their routes after receiving warnings from the group. Three Houthi officials also said they had warned international shipping companies not to transit through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the southern gateway to the Red Sea at the entrance to the Arabian Peninsula. In an email sent to shipping companies, the Houthis said vessels were prohibited from loading or unloading cargo at Saudi ports, warning that any company involved in such activity could be targeted “anywhere”. The announcement came

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  Palestinian mother loses unborn baby after Israeli settlers attack her home in West Bank

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  A Palestinian mother lost her unborn baby on Tuesday after Israeli settlers attacked her home south of Hebron, while other Palestinians were injured in settler attacks and Israeli military raids across the occupied West Bank. Osama Makhamera, an activist who documents Israeli violations in Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, said resident Ruqayya Rabe’i suffered “shock and fear” after settlers attacked her home in the village of Tuwani on Sunday. In a statement, he said the settlers threw stones at the house and set it on fire. He added that they also burned the village mosque and several other homes. Makhamera said the woman was taken to hospital for treatment after the attack. Her condition worsened on Tuesday, and after she

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  Iranian army says new air defence systems have strengthened combat capabilities

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  The Iranian army said on Tuesday that newly deployed air defence systems have strengthened its combat capabilities and improved its ability to confront what it described as enemy aircraft. Brigadier General Mohammad Akrami Nia, spokesperson for the Iranian army, said the new anti-aircraft equipment had entered active service and had significantly enhanced Iran’s defensive capabilities, enabling its forces to respond to hostile aircraft “with much greater force”. In a press interview, Akrami Nia said Iran is going through “a highly sensitive historic moment”, adding that the performance of the Iranian people, the armed forces, the army and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) would strengthen the country’s position in the region and internationally. He reiterated that Iran “has never sought

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  Trump criticises Jordan after deaths of US soldiers on its territory

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  US President Donald Trump criticised Jordan at the White House on Tuesday following the deaths of US soldiers on its territory, saying the incident would not have happened if it had been handled by American forces or personnel. Speaking during a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Trump said: ” Iran “slipped something through Jordanian territory.” He added: “That would not have happened if American forces or personnel had been in charge.” Trump continued: “When you let others do your job, things do not always go well.” Earlier, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said US soldiers had been killed and a radar system destroyed in Jordan, and that facilities belonging to US company Amazon in Bahrain had been targeted

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  US defence chief tells Congress Iran war has cost $37.5 billion

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told Congress on Tuesday that the US war against Iran has so far cost $37.5 billion, around $8 billion more than the last public estimate. Hegseth told lawmakers the figure also includes projected costs up to 30 September. It was the first time the defence secretary had faced public questioning from lawmakers since US forces resumed military operations against Iran earlier this month. He appeared before the Senate Appropriations Committee alongside Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine. The hearing came ahead of a debate on a $95 billion Republican budget package to fund the armed forces, provide aid to farmers and introduce changes to voting laws, all key priorities for the

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  Khalil al-Hayya’s election reveals the Hamas of the post-war era

  by Marwa A on July 22, 2026

  The election of Dr Khalil al-Hayya as head of Hamas’s Political Bureau represents far more than a change of leadership. It signals the movement’s entry into a new political phase, shaped by the war on Gaza, the systematic assassination of its leaders and the struggle over who will shape Palestine’s future once the conflict ends. For nearly two years, Israel has pursued what it calls a strategy of “decapitating” Hamas’s leadership. The assassinations of Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and other senior figures were intended to fragment the movement and undermine its command structure. Al-Hayya’s election points in the opposite direction. Despite its losses, Hamas has preserved its institutional framework and demonstrated its ability to renew its leadership through its own

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  UN officials warn regional escalation threatens Syria’s ‘pivotal’ recovery

  by Marwa A on July 21, 2026

  United Nations officials told the Security Council on Tuesday that Syria has reached a critical turning point toward national recovery, but continued regional instability and funding shortfalls risk reversing gains, Anadolu reports. “Syria stands at a pivotal moment,” said Edem Wosornu, director of the Crisis Response Division at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA. She reported that since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024, approximately 1.7 million refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced persons have returned to their communities. Wosornu warned, however, that the returns will not be sustainable without addressing massive deficits in housing, infrastructure and access to basic services. – Israeli incursions, regional risks Wosornu identified Israeli military activity in southern

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  Bahrain sounds air raid sirens for 3rd time Tuesday amid Iranian attacks

  by Marwa A on July 21, 2026

  Bahrain sounded air raid sirens for the third time on Tuesday amid continued Iranian missile and drone attacks in the region, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Interior Ministry urged citizens and residents to remain calm, proceed to the nearest safe location and follow developments through official channels. The latest alert came after Bahrain sounded sirens twice since morning as Iranian attacks targeted the Gulf country. Iran’s army earlier said it had targeted the US-operated Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain with drones, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed it had struck infrastructure linked to US technology company Amazon in the kingdom with cruise missiles. Neighbouring Kuwait also said its air defences had intercepted Iranian missiles and drones on

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  6 killed as forest fires sweep parts of Algeria

  by Marwa A on July 21, 2026

  Six people have been killed in forest fires affecting several provinces across Algeria in recent days, the Interior Ministry said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the state-run APS news agency, the ministry said provincial governors had been instructed to begin a comprehensive assessment of all losses caused by the fires. It said compensation for those affected would be based on reports prepared by provincial committees conducting detailed field investigations. The ministry said authorities had mobilised material and human resources, including firefighting aircraft and helicopters, to protect lives and property and extinguish remaining fire outbreaks across the country. READ: Eleven children are dead in Algeria, where is the outrage?

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  Trump says he would speak to Hezbollah if Lebanese president wanted it

  by Marwa A on July 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he would speak to Hezbollah if Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asked him to do it, Anadolu reports. Trump said during a meeting with Aoun at the Oval Office that he is willing to engage with people others might oppose speaking to. “I would speak to Hezbollah. I speak to everybody. I’ll speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn’t be speaking to, and things work out,” said Trump. “I would say this: if the president wanted me to speak to Hezbollah, you know he’s lived with Hezbollah for a long time, and if the president wanted me to speak to Hezbollah, I would.” Asked about a full withdrawal of the

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  Pentagon running short on funds, largely due to Iran war: Report

  by Marwa A on July 21, 2026

  The Pentagon is confronting an urgent funding shortfall driven largely by the war in Iran, with key military accounts expected to run dry within weeks as US President Donald Trump expands the conflict, The Washington Post reported on Tuesday, citing US officials, Anadolu reports. The budget strain has already forced the military to scale back training and maintenance that support readiness, the report said. The collapse of the ceasefire with Iran is expected to increase costs further after four US service members were killed during renewed fighting, raising expectations of a broader conflict. The White House has requested $67 billion in emergency funding, but Congress remains deadlocked. With the House set to begin a month-long recess, additional military funding is

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  US Sen. Bernie Sanders says Israel ‘did not have the right to commit genocide’ in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  US Senator Bernie Sanders on Monday said that Israel “did not have the right to commit genocide,” in Gaza, saying that Tel Aviv “should not get one nickel more from U.S. taxpayers,” Anadolu reports. Sepaking at an event in Minnesota, Sanders criticized Israel’s brutal war on the Gaza Strip, saying that the administration of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “did not have the right to wage an all-out war against the Palestinian people.” “It did not have the right to kill more than 73,000 Palestinians, mostly women, children, and the elderly. Did not have the right to injure 173,000 people. READ: Further revelations expose $100m behind Israel’s frantic bid to win back US opinion “It did not have the right to destroy virtually

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  Israel issues military order to seize 5.2 dunams of Palestinian land in occupied East Jerusalem

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Israeli authorities issued a military order to temporarily seize 5,283 square meters (5.28 dunams) of land in the town of Jaba, north of occupied East Jerusalem, in an attempt to impose new facts on the ground, the Jerusalem Governorate said on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the governorate said the order covers a 725-meter-long plot in the areas of Al-Muntar, Ras al-Marj and Shaab al-Ghuzoul in Jaba, and will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2028. It said the Israeli order was part of a plan to build a settlement road extending from Route 60 near the Jaba checkpoint to the separation wall near the illegal Neve Yaakov settlement. “Israeli seizure orders are used to impose new facts on

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  Bab el-Mandeb and the coming age of chokepoint warfare

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  The waters of the Bab el-Mandeb are running red with the blood of a failing international order. For the first time in modern history, two of the world’s most vital maritime chokepoints—the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb—are under simultaneous, sustained assault. This is not merely a crisis; this is the unravelling of the post-war maritime consensus, and the world is watching with paralysis as a new form of warfare exposes the hollow core of our strategic doctrines. Consider the mathematics of catastrophe. Before the conflict, roughly 20 million barrels of oil and petroleum products passed through the Strait of Hormuz each day—equivalent to one-fifth of global consumption. The Bab el-Mandeb carried another 9.3 million barrels per day in

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  Further revelations expose $100m behind Israel’s frantic bid to win back US opinion

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Further revelations have emerged about the millions fuelling Israel’s frantic battle to win back US public opinion. They follow reports that Israeli officials were furious after a multimillion-dollar influence campaign failed to halt the collapse in support for Israel among young American conservatives. According to an investigation by Haaretz, Israel has committed roughly $100 million to overseas campaigns aimed at improving its image and shaping perceptions of its genocide in Gaza and war on Iran since 7 October 2023. The report uncovered government procurement documents and filings submitted under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) which reveal an extensive network of digital advertising campaigns, public relations firms, influencers and civil society organisations. Despite the unprecedented investment, polling shows that

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  Israeli forces open fire near Lebanese army forces deploying in southern Lebanon, military says

  by Marwa A on July 21, 2026

  Israeli forces opened fire Tuesday near Lebanese army forces as they deployed in the southern town of Zawtar al-Gharbiyeh, the military said, warning that the incident could undermine the implementation of a pilot deployment under a US-mediated framework agreement with Israel, Anadolu reports. A Lebanese military statement said that army units came under fire while carrying out a deployment operation in the town. No casualties were immediately reported. The army said the attack “could hinder the implementation of deployment steps in the pilot zones” being carried out through coordination with the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon (MCG4L). Established last June under the framework agreement, the group is a joint tripartite committee comprising the US, Israel, and Lebanon. Earlier Tuesday, the

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  The road to normalising colonial expansion in Gaza

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Normalising genocide was a way to normalise colonial expansion in Gaza. Only three weeks after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich revealed plans for three Israeli settlements, the Nachala settler group organised a march last Sunday, in which settlers and ministers, including Smotrich, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, Economy Minister Nir Barakat and other Likud politicians, marched to a closed military zone, bypassing the Israeli military’s roadblocks to reach the border with Gaza. The call was for rebuilding the former settlements of Elei Sinai, Dugit and Nisanit which were evacuated in 2005 under the Disengagement Plan by then Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz is pushing for the establishment of three Nahal outposts in Gaza, which historically

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  Netherlands to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements starting in September

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  The Netherlands will begin enforcing a ban on imports from illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territories on Sept. 22, Foreign Minister Tom Berendsen told parliament on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. Companies trying to bypass the restrictions will also face prosecution as of that date, according to Dutch broadcaster RTL Nieuws. The Dutch government considers the settlements in the occupied territories to be in violation of international law and says the measure is intended to prevent trade from contributing to their continued existence. Imports from the settlements consist mainly of agricultural products, including avocados, dates, oranges, grapes and fresh herbs. The measure will also cover products from the occupied Golan Heights, a region known for wine production. Annual trade involving the

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  Miliband comes under fire after poor start fails to break with Starmer’s Gaza policy

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Britain’s new foreign secretary, Ed Miliband, has come under fire for pledging to defend international law while describing Russia’s war in Ukraine as “illegal” but referring only to “conflict in the Middle East”, without condemning Israel’s genocide in Gaza. New Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed Miliband yesterday, replacing Yvette Cooper at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. Miliband previously served as energy secretary under Keir Starmer’s government.   In a statement following his appointment, Miliband promised to defend Britain’s “values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage”. However, critics highlighted the striking difference in the language he used to describe Russia and Israel. “From Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine to conflict in the Middle East,” Miliband

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  Beyond the Strait of Hormuz: Refining capacity and product-market vulnerability

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  The recent disruption in the Middle East, including the closure and uneven reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, has exposed a shift in the global energy system’s principal vulnerability. Initial concern focused on whether enough crude oil could reach the market. Yet crude flows have recovered faster than supplies of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other products. Strategic petroleum reserve releases, softer Chinese demand and alternative export routes have helped cushion the crude market, but they cannot substitute for operational refineries. The central constraint is therefore no longer simply the availability of crude; it is the capacity to process the right grades of crude into usable fuels and deliver them to consumers. That distinction defines the current global market imbalance.

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  Israeli strike wipes out entire Palestinian family of 6 in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  An entire Palestinian family of six was killed at dawn on Tuesday after Israeli forces bombed their house in Gaza City despite an ongoing ceasefire, the official news agency Wafa reported. They were killed on Al-Thalathini Street amid continued violations of the ceasefire in place since Oct. 10, 2025. The Palestinian Red Crescent said its teams initially recovered the bodies of a mother and her four children after an Israeli strike targeting an apartment in the Al-Samer area. A medical source said the children killed in the attack were aged between 6 and 13. ​​​​​​​According to the source, the bodies of the victims arrived at the Al-Shifa Hospital burned. Their father was later confirmed dead in the same attack. READ: Oscar-winning

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  The Anti-Klan Law Comes for Trump’s Israel Lobby | Palestine This Week

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  In this episode, we examine Trump’s drastically reduced Gaza recovery plan, growing criticism within Hamas over the consequences of 7 October and Israel’s covert efforts to downplay the scale of death, starvation and destruction in Gaza. We also discuss the failure of a major pro-Israel influence campaign in the US, rising congressional resistance to military aid, Mahmoud Abbas’s proposed Palestinian elections, legal challenges to US sanctions on the International Criminal Court and Mahmoud Khalil’s case against Trump administration officials and pro-Israel groups. The episode also explores Palestinian claims to ownership of land designated for a new US embassy in Jerusalem, reports that Trump urged Israel to withdraw from Syria and Lebanon and FIFA corruption.   WATCH: ‘Israel Loses Europe and America,

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  Gaza’s honey industry faces collapse under Israel’s genocide

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Gaza’s beekeeping sector is facing the risk of collapse as Israel’s genocidal war has destroyed apiaries, wiped out vegetation and prevented beekeepers from reaching key grazing areas in the eastern Gaza Strip. According to 2025 data from the Cooperative Society of Beekeepers in Gaza, the honey production and beekeeping sector has suffered losses estimated at around $39 million since October 2023. The society said nearly 30,000 beehives were destroyed. Before the war, those hives supplied Gaza’s local market with around 380 to 400 tons of honey annually. The damage also affected livelihoods across the sector, with Israel destroying more than 85% of vegetation and forest grazing areas, leaving more than 6,000 workers without jobs and harming the income of 905

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  A History of Modern Syria

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  ‘We have much to learn from Syria, this nation that ‘belongs to All,’ writes historian Daniel Neep in his latest book A History of Modern Syria. A whirlwind adventure that takes us from the 19th century, when Syria was first conceived as a distinct national entity, to 2024 when Ahmed Al-Sharaa takes power in the Mediterranean country. The book offers intricate insight into the making, unmaking and remaking of Syria over the last two centuries. It challenges popular narratives that view Syria as merely the product of a European colonial fantasy and forces us to see the Levantine nation as a product of Syrians themselves. What makes Neep’s book distinct is that he does not look at Syrian politics solely

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  Sudan rejects US sanctions over chemical weapons allegations

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Sudan has rejected new US sanctions imposed over allegations that its armed forces used chemical weapons, describing the measures as based on “false allegations” and politically motivated. In a statement issued on Sunday, Sudan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “categorically rejects the unilateral and illegal sanctions imposed by the United States against Sudan, based on false allegations of the Sudanese Armed Forces’ use of chemical weapons.” The ministry called on the United States to present the evidence supporting its accusations and reaffirmed Sudan’s commitment to relevant international agreements, including continued cooperation with the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). READ: Sudan’s Burhan discusses stability with African intelligence delegation According to the statement, Khartoum has denied the allegations since

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  Iran issues new warnings against US and countries supporting its military operations

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Iran intensified its rhetoric against the United States on Monday, warning that countries providing military support to Washington could face consequences and threatening to disrupt navigation through the Strait of Hormuz if it is used to transport military equipment intended for use against Iran. In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would continue to defend Iran by relying on its own capabilities, adding that the country’s future would not depend on what it described as “the promises of enemies” but on “resistance, vigilance, and self-reliance.” According to the statement, the IRGC also reaffirmed its determination to confront the United States, saying it would “teach the United States an unforgettable lesson” and prevent what it described as

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  Iranian official says mediators proposed 10-day ceasefire to revive US agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday that mediators had presented Tehran with a proposal for a 10-day ceasefire aimed at reducing tensions with the United States and creating an opportunity to revive the interim agreement reached between the two sides last month. The proposal comes amid an intensifying military confrontation between Washington and Tehran, marked by continued US strikes and expanding Iranian retaliatory attacks. According to CNN, the escalation has raised questions within Washington over the objectives of US President Donald Trump’s military campaign and how the conflict might be brought to an end. The broadcaster also reported that the US administration faces growing military and political challenges, including continued Iranian threats to shipping through the Strait of

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  Malaysia investigates alleged Israeli involvement in Johor technology project

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Malaysian authorities are investigating allegations of Israeli involvement in a private technology community in the southern state of Johor, as Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reiterated that Malaysia does not recognise Israel and would deport Israeli nationals found to be in the country in violation of its immigration rules. According to local media reports, Anwar said, “If we find any Israeli, they will be deported immediately because we do not recognise Israel.” His comments came as the Ministry of Home Affairs investigates allegations involving Network School, a community for digital professionals founded by former Coinbase Chief Technology Officer Balaji Srinivasan. The investigation follows social media claims that some participants in the project hold dual Israeli and other nationalities and entered Malaysia

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  Hamas Says Khalil al-Hayya received congratulatory call from PA vice president

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Hamas said on Monday that Khalil al-Hayya, head of the group’s political bureau, received a phone call from Hussein al-Sheikh, Vice President of the State of Palestine, congratulating him on assuming the movement’s leadership. In a statement, Hamas said al-Sheikh wished al-Hayya success in his new role. According to the statement, al-Hayya said he remains committed to serving the Palestinian people and their cause, upholding what he described as the movement’s fundamental principles, and working to protect Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and elsewhere. The statement added that al-Hayya expressed his commitment to cooperating with Palestinian political leaders in pursuit of Palestinian unity in the face of what he described as challenges confronting the Palestinian people and

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  Israeli activists demand release of detained Gaza hospital director

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Israeli activists rallied outside a US diplomatic compound in Jerusalem on Monday, demanding the release of detained Palestinian doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, the director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, while urging Washington to stop arming Israel. The protest, organized by the anti-occupation Israeli group Free Jerusalem, also called for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza and the abuse of Palestinian detainees. Demonstrators held banners demanding Abu Safiya’s release and chanted in support of the Palestinian doctor while beating drums. Other signs urged the US to end military support for Israel. Louis Frankenthal, one of the protesters, told Anadolu Agency that Abu Safiya’s detention was “illegal” and that the doctor has been subjected to torture, starvation and conditions

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Dalton: Can the US and Iran Avoid a Major War?

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Gideon Levy: A War Council, Elections Fever, or Mending Relations?

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  Iran says Hormuz remains closed, warns of ‘major military operation’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said two tankers caught fire after explosions while attempting to pass through what it described as an unsafe route south of the Strait of Hormuz. In a statement carried by Iranian media, the IRGC said the Strait of Hormuz would remain closed “as long as US hostile actions in the region continue”. The statement also claimed that US equipment and military assets had been destroyed in the Muharraq and Riffa areas of Bahrain. It added that the attacks on US military assets in Bahrain were intended to “pave the way for the upcoming major operation”. The IRGC further claimed that drone attacks had destroyed US military equipment and facilities in Kuwait. READ: Hebrew media: Trump

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  Hebrew media: Trump considering wide-ranging military plan against Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  US President Donald Trump is considering a plan for a large-scale military operation against Iran that could destabilise the government in Tehran, according to Israel’s public broadcaster. The broadcaster said the proposed military action would involve a major expansion of the current operation. It added that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is among those pushing for such a scenario. Citing a source familiar with the matter, the broadcaster said Qatar, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are pressing for a 10-day ceasefire to revive the memorandum of understanding previously signed between the United States and Iran. Earlier on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Tehran had received proposals aimed at reducing tensions and that they were under review. Trump had

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  Saudi-led coalition says it will respond firmly to Houthi threats

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  The Saudi-led coalition said on Monday it would respond “firmly and forcefully” to recent threats by the Houthi movement, in its first official reaction after the Iran-aligned group announced a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia. The statement was issued by Major General Turki Al-Maliki, spokesperson for the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen. Al-Maliki said the coalition had begun measures to protect its vessels transiting the Bab al-Mandab Strait, adding that any Houthi threats against passing ships would be met “firmly and forcefully”. He said the Houthi threats violate international law and falls under act of maritime piracy. Al-Maliki added that the measures taken by the coalition were in line with international law and the

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  Hamas condemns Israeli strikes on displaced people’s tents in Gaza, calls for urgent international action

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Hamas has condemned Israeli air strikes carried out across the Gaza Strip on Monday, saying they form part of what it described as Israel’s ongoing “genocide” against Palestinians. In a press statement received by Quds Press, the group said the strikes targeted tents sheltering displaced people and civilian homes in different parts of the enclave, killing seven Palestinians and injuring several others. It described the attacks as a “systematic assault” and a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian norms. Hamas said the attacks would only strengthen the Palestinian people’s determination to remain on their land, defend their rights, and uphold what it called their right to life, freedom and dignity. It added that the strikes would not succeed in

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  Oscar-winning Javier Bardem says Gaza war has changed global views on Palestine

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  Oscar-winning Spanish actor Javier Bardem has said growing global support for Palestine is a direct result of what he described as Israel’s “genocide” in the Gaza Strip, adding that the situation is clear to anyone with “the minimum amount of common sense”. Speaking to journalist Mehdi Hasan on the Zeteo platform, Bardem said: “There is no justification for killing innocent civilians anywhere in the world, but what Israel has been doing for years is a documented genocide.” Asked about the shift in global public opinion, particularly in the United States where recent polls have shown rising support for Palestine even among people with little interest in politics or sport, Bardem said he had been surprised by the change but welcomed

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  El-Sisi pushes ahead with Egypt’s militarisation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 21, 2026

  The militarisation of the Egyptian state has accelerated significantly under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, who came to power through a military coup that marked its 13th anniversary earlier this month. In a systematic process, military officers continue to be appointed to ministerial positions, generals are gaining greater influence over provincial governors’ appointments, the army-affiliated Mostaqbal Misr (Future of Egypt) Agency is being granted sweeping economic powers, and the appointment of judges, imams, teachers and civil servants is increasingly tied to prior approval from the Egyptian Military Academy. El-Sisi ousted the country’s first democratically elected civilian president, the late Mohamed Morsi, on 3rd July 2013. Since then, he has steadily accelerated efforts to embed the military throughout the institutions of government