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

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  Israel, Taiwan pose threat to Somalia’s existence: Somali president

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud announced Sunday that Israel and Taiwan pose a threat to Somalia’s existence, Anadolu reports. His remarks came during a speech at a ceremony marking the launch of construction of Somalia’s National Defense University in the capital, Mogadishu. “Taiwan poses a threat to Somalia’s existence, and Israel poses another threat to Somalia’s statehood. We know who our close friends are, and who are not,” Mohamud said during his speech at the launch of the university, which is also expected to include an armed forces hospital. China, which Mohamud said is one of Somalia’s closest allies, is funding the construction of the university. Israel is the only country that has recognized Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland, and

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  Northern Cyprus at 43: Europe must honour its promises

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  As the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus marks its 43rd anniversary on 15th November, Europe should confront an uncomfortable question: why do Turkish Cypriots who voted for a United Nations peace plan remain isolated more than two decades later? Having followed the Cyprus question for over four decades, I believe lasting peace requires Turkish Cypriots to be treated as equals. Their security, dignity and freedom cannot depend on endlessly postponed promises. For Türkiye, the bond with Turkish Cypriots is organic, rooted in shared history and sacrifice. Our objective is a free, secure and prosperous Turkish Cypriot state capable of standing on its own feet. The Republic of Cyprus was established in 1960 as a partnership between the island’s two peoples.

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  When the ladder collapses

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  A few days ago, Iraqi media carried the story of a young doctor loading sacks of cement at a construction site. He had completed medical school. He had done everything society had asked of him. He studied, graduated and acquired the qualifications his country desperately needs. Yet he could not find a job in medicine. What made the story striking was not simply that a doctor was working in construction. It was that a thread had snapped. The thread connecting education to employment, effort to reward and ambition to opportunity. That young man is not an exception. The computer science graduate selling tea from a roadside stall. The civil engineer helping his father in a vegetable market. The teacher discovering

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  Fire destroys Syrian refugee camp in Lebanon, leaving nearly 500 homeless

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  A fire swept through a Syrian refugee camp in eastern Lebanon on Saturday, destroying all 59 tents housing 75 families, witnesses said, Anadolu reports. The blaze broke out at the camp in Bar Elias, a town in the Zahle district of the Bekaa Valley, where about 486 people were living, an Anadolu correspondent reported. The fire destroyed the entire camp, leaving hundreds of Syrian refugees without shelter. No injuries were reported, and Lebanese authorities had not commented on the cause of the blaze. Lebanon has hosted large numbers of Syrian refugees since the conflict in Syria began in 2011. Lebanese authorities estimated the Syrian refugee population at about 1.5 million in January, including nearly 880,000 registered with the UN refugee

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  US intel estimates Iran retains up to 2,500 missiles despite war damage: Report

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  Iran retains an estimated 1,500 to 2,500 missiles despite months of US and Israeli strikes targeting its weapons infrastructure, the Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing US intelligence assessments, Anadolu reports. The findings challenge US President Donald Trump’s claims that Tehran’s military capabilities have been largely destroyed. Citing US officials, the newspaper said the assessment suggests Iran still possesses a substantial missile arsenal capable of threatening American and allied targets if fighting resumes. Officials said the assessment carried a low level of confidence because of difficulties determining how many missiles were ready for launch and how many remained in storage. The assessment carries a low level of confidence, said officials, largely because of difficulties determining how many missiles are ready

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  Bahrain says its air defenses intercepted several Iranian attacks

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  Bahrain announced that its air defenses on Sunday had intercepted and destroyed several Iranian aerial attacks targeting the kingdom, Anadolu reports. “Iran continues its systematic hostile approach through attacks” targeting Bahraini territory, the country’s Defense Force said on US social media company X. The attacks were destroyed before they could reach their targets, it added, expressing that all units “remain at the highest level of readiness and are fully prepared” to defend the kingdom. Earlier on Sunday, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted a US radar defense site at Bahrain’s al-Riffa Air Base with six drones. The developments come amid continued tensions between Iran and the US over navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway

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  Iran accuses UN nuclear watchdog of being influenced by US, European countries

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei on Sunday accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of being influenced by the US and European countries, Anadolu reports. “Beyond this formal damage, the agency’s insistence on one-sided and biased reporting about Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, which is caused by the political approaches of some of its managers and the influence of the US and European countries, has caused an irreparable blow to the technical and international credibility of this institution,” Baqaei told a news briefing in Tehran cited by the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Baqaei also accused Washington of “emptying the concept of diplomacy and negotiation from its true meaning.” The accusation came shortly after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said

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  Ex-US President Biden says he has limited trust in Israel’s Netanyahu

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  In his new memoir, former US President Joe Biden said he had limited trust in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Anadolu reports. According to The Wall Street Journal, Biden reflects on his one-term presidency in his new book Promise Me, America, published following the Democrats’ success in the Nov. 3 midterm elections. Biden defended his decision to withdraw US troops from Afghanistan in 2021, saying he believed it was the right choice and would make the same decision if he were president again under similar circumstances. He said then-Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley had expressed concerns about the consequences of the withdrawal. Biden noted that he had been assured the Afghan government

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  Iran says it targeted US radar site in Bahrain with 6 drones

  by Marwa A on November 15, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed on Sunday that it had targeted a US radar defence site at al-Riffa Air Base in Bahrain with six drones, according to state media, Anadolu reports. There were no claims or details of the drones having caused damage. The report comes after Bahrain’s Interior Ministry issued repeated warnings hours earlier about a potential threat, without specifying its nature, and urged residents to seek shelter. In a statement carried by state-run broadcaster IRIB, the IRGC said the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, mentioning what it called Washington’s “failure” to escort ships through the waterway. It warned that “any US aggression would be met with an even harsher and more devastating response.” The developments come

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  Israel’s Yair Golan accuses Netanyahu of neglecting Arab citizens after deadly grenade attack

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Israeli opposition leader Yair Golan accused caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday of neglecting the lives of Arab citizens and leaving them at the mercy of criminal groups after a grenade attack killed a woman and injured three others in northern Israel, Anadolu reports. “A bomb explodes in broad daylight in the village of Kafr Manda. People killed and many injured. This is what the Netanyahu government’s policy of neglect looks like,” Golan, who leads The Democrats party, wrote on US social media company X. “Netanyahu neglected the lives of Arab citizens in Israel. When he appointed Itamar Ben-Gvir as national security minister, he handed them over to criminal organizations,” Golan said. He added that those groups had grown

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  2 Palestinians killed in fresh Israeli attacks across Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Two Palestinians were killed and seven others injured Saturday in separate Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip, amid Tel Aviv’s daily violations of the ceasefire agreement that has been in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, Anadolu reports. A medical source at Al-Shifa Hospital told Anadolu Agency that two Palestinians were killed and three others injured in an Israeli strike on the Al-Saftawi area in northern Gaza. Eyewitnesses told Anadolu Agency that an Israeli drone fired two missiles at Palestinians near the Abu Sharakh roundabout in Al-Saftawi. A Palestinian was also wounded in the shoulder by Israeli army fire in the Al-Sudaniya area of the northwestern Gaza Strip, medical sources told Anadolu Agency. Separately, local sources told Anadolu Agency that Israeli

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  US warns Americans in Saudi Arabia over threat of Houthi attacks

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  he US Mission in Saudi Arabia issued a nationwide security alert Saturday urging Americans to exercise “heightened vigilance,” citing an increased threat of attacks by Houthis, Anadolu reports. The mission said Houthi attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure in Saudi Arabia had “caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions.” It warned that hostilities could spread “rapidly.” “Please take extreme caution if you choose to use airports in Saudi Arabia,” the mission said, urging travelers to confirm their flight status directly with both their airline and the airport. The mission said Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport partially reopened on Oct. 23 for domestic flights and some international services operated by Saudi carriers. A limited number of flights normally based

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  Palestine Book Awards 2026: Winners announced in London ceremony

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  The winners of the 15th annual Palestine Book Awards were announced at a ceremony in London last night, with honours going to works on the genocide in Gaza, the colonial violence of the West, Palestinian land struggles and the mapping of Palestine. Historian Professor Nur Masalha received this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The ceremony, organised by Middle East Monitor (MEMO), was hosted by British-Palestinian activist and spoken word poet Leanne Mohamad. It brought together authors, publishers, academics, journalists and [politicians/diplomats] to celebrate the best new books in English on Palestine. This year’s awards drew more than 80 submissions, the largest number in their history, from which ten titles were shortlisted. The keynote address was delivered by Dr Mohannad Mustafa, a

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  Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of leading Tigray rebel offensive with Egyptian support

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Ethiopia’s military chief Saturday accused neighboring Eritrea of directing a new offensive against federal forces, alleging that Egypt supplied weapons and logistical support to Tigrayan rebels in a coordinated campaign to overthrow the Ethiopian government, Anadolu reports. Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, chief of general staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF), said at a press conference that the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had launched a fourth round of attacks targeting military positions across the Amhara and Afar regions. “The offensive was led by Eritrea, with logistical support and military supplies provided by Egypt,” Jula said. “However, our forces managed to repel the offensive,” he said. Jula claimed that commanders of the attacking forces had fled to Eritrea following

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  Iran’s Revolutionary Guard says it shot down US drone over Qeshm Island

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Saturday it shot down a US MQ-1 drone flying over Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the IRGC said its air defenses detected the drone over the island before bringing it down with a newly developed system. The US and Israel launched a war against Iran on Feb. 28. Tehran responded by attacking Israel and US military facilities in Arab countries. Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding on June 18 and began negotiations, which later stalled over disagreements on how to ensure safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. READ: CENTCOM denies Iranian claim of attack on US radar in Bahrain, says 2 drones

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  EU urges Israel to reopen Gaza crossings, allow unimpeded humanitarian aid

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  The EU on Friday called on Israel to reopen all border crossings into Gaza and allow the immediate and unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance, warning that worsening winter conditions and continued military strikes are deepening the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the EU expressed “grave concern over the persistent and devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” saying severe flooding and winter conditions had further worsened living conditions for an already exhausted population. The bloc also condemned the recent airstrike on Nasser Hospital, describing it as “deeply alarming,” and stressed that international law, including international humanitarian law, must be respected at all times. READ: UN condemns restrictions on aid supplies entering Gaza as winter approaches “The EU

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  18 countries condemn Israeli strike on Gaza hospital, urge ceasefire compliance

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Turkiye and 17 other countries on Saturday strongly condemned an Israeli airstrike on the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, which caused casualties among patients and medical personnel, and called on Israel to uphold the ceasefire and allow the unrestricted delivery of humanitarian aid. In a joint statement issued by the Turkish Foreign Ministry on Saturday, the foreign ministers of Türkiye, Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said the attack violated international humanitarian law, which provides special protection for medical facilities and healthcare workers. The ministers also condemned continued Israeli attacks on Palestinian civilians, including strikes on tents and other shelters

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  Israeli occupiers attack Palestinian olive pickers in West Bank as army arrests farmer

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Israeli occupiers attacked Palestinian olive pickers east of Nablus in the northern occupied West Bank on Saturday, while the Israeli army arrested a farmer as he plowed his land south of Hebron, Anadolu reports. Citing local sources, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that the occupiers attacked and assaulted olive pickers in the Khallat Abu Huwan area of Beit Dajan, east of Nablus. The occupiers forced the farmers to leave their land after stealing equipment and mats they were using to harvest olives, the sources added. In the nearby village of Salem, east of Nablus, olive trees caught fire after Israeli forces fired tear gas canisters at farmers picking olives to prevent them from continuing their work, an Anadolu

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  2 tankers caught fire after hitting naval mine in Hormuz, Iranian navy says

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Iran’s navy said Saturday that two oil tankers caught fire in the eastern Strait of Hormuz after hitting a naval mine, Anadolu reports. “Fire and explosions are the fate of tankers involved in illegal activities that have turned off their tracking systems and are operating in restricted areas,” the navy said in a statement carried by Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency. The statement did not identify the tankers, their flags or the extent of the damage. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the incident. READ: Trump says US ‘doesn’t need’ deal with Iran, claims control of Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route connecting the Gulf with the Gulf of Oman, has faced repeated disruptions since

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  Houthi attacks kill 51, wound 85 in Yemen’s Taiz over 12 days, rights group says

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  A Yemeni human rights center said Saturday it had documented the killing of 51 civilians and the injury of 85 others, including 43 children and 19 women, in Houthi attacks in Yemen’s southwestern Taiz province over a 12-day period, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the Taiz Human Rights Center said the period covered Nov. 1-12, noting that the casualties resulted from attacks involving ballistic missiles, artillery shelling, sniper fire, gunfire and landmines. Thirteen children and three women were among those killed, while the 85 injured included 30 children and 16 women, the center said. It said three attacks targeting Al-Najd market in Al-Misrakh district, Al-Athawer village in Haifan district and the Al-Hadara popular market in Al-Wazi’iyah district had collectively killed

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  The Atlantic gap widens: Europe pays for Ukraine and stays out of Iran

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  On Thursday in Dublin, European leaders spent the day arguing over who should speak for them. That night, two American envoys flew in from Moscow with news. Vladimir Putin, they said, had agreed to let Europe join the next round of Ukraine talks. The Kremlin has not confirmed it. Putin said Russia had “never objected” to dialogue with Europe. His aide Yuri Ushakov called Europe’s stance “a recipe for endless war.” Jared Kushner took the win anyway. “We cannot conclude this deal without the Europeans being at the table,” he told reporters. The irony is hard to miss. Washington won the seat, not Brussels. And Europe cannot yet agree on who will sit in it. Paris and Berlin favor the

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  Israeli army arrests 10 Palestinians in raids across occupied West Bank

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  The Israeli army arrested at least 10 Palestinians and assaulted others early Saturday during raids across the occupied West Bank amid tightening restrictions on Palestinians. Israeli forces arrested 10 Palestinians, including a woman, during raids in the northern West Bank city of Nablus, local sources told Anadolu Agency. The sources said Israeli military vehicles raided the Balata and Askar refugee camps east of Nablus, the Ein Beit al-Ma’ (Ein Camp) refugee camp west of the city, as well as the neighborhoods of Iskan Rujeib, Al-Masakin Al-Sha’biya, Balata al-Balad and Askar al-Balad. The army evacuated a house in the city’s eastern area and turned it into a military barracks while conducting field interrogations of several Palestinians, they added. Several young men

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  Yemen’s government-aligned forces repel Houthi attack as fighting has displaced over 340,000 people

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Yemen’s government-aligned forces said Saturday that they had repelled a Houthi attack in the southwestern province of Lahj, while state-run media reported airstrikes targeting Houthi reinforcements in the neighboring Taiz province. The government-aligned Giants Brigades said they had “repelled a Houthi attack in the Al-Mudharaba district” in Lahj. The forces posted a video on Facebook that they said showed Houthi fighters fleeing after the attack was repelled. The forces’ statement came as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday that the ongoing military escalation has displaced more than 340,000 people since August. The government controls most of the Lahj province, which borders the interim capital Aden to the north and west. Key roads linking Aden to other provinces

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  Netanyahu discusses possible resumption of attacks on Iran with Eisenkot: Israeli media

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Israeli caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the possible resumption of attacks on Iran with Gadi Eisenkot, who has been tasked with forming the next government, Israeli media reported Friday. According to Channel 12, Netanyahu held the meeting Thursday and sought to share intelligence on Iran with Eisenkot. The broadcaster cited an “informed” source who said the intelligence “could change his view” of Netanyahu’s motives for resuming attacks. Eisenkot was not aware that Mossad chief Roman Gofman was visiting Washington to discuss the issue, said Channel 12. It did not indicate whether Eisenkot was deliberately kept uninformed about Gofman’s visit. The meeting came amid a political transition in Israel after Netanyahu’s bloc lost its parliamentary majority in the Oct. 27

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  Trump does not want to resume war with Iran ‘for now’: Report

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  US President Donald Trump does not want to resume the war with Iran “for now,” as his administration maintains economic and military pressure on Tehran, according to a media report on Friday. Citing a US official, The Washington Post reported that Trump has received several daily intelligence briefings since the midterm elections. “It’s become pretty clear that Trump does not want to go back to war for now,” the official said. The report said the administration had settled on a middle path of no new war, no talks and no lasting peace as the conflict entered its eighth month. Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he was done trying to reach a deal with Iran and had instructed

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  UN warns of rising maritime attacks, urges restoration of safe navigation in Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  A UN official warned on Friday that growing tensions and attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandab threaten international peace and security, regional stability and the global economy, Anadolu reports. Khaled Khiari, assistant secretary-general for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, told the UN Security Council virtually that maritime incidents had continued to increase, with commercial vessels facing different forms of attacks and numerous ships and their crews stranded inside the Gulf for months. “Civilian vessels and commercial shipping must not become targets,” he said, reiterating warnings by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the risks posed by continued tensions in the strategically important waterways. Briefing the Council at Bahrain’s request, under the

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  Protesters urge UK government to impose sanctions on Israel over Gaza genocide

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian activists gathered in London on Friday, urging the British government to take “meaningful action” and impose sanctions on Israel over its genocide in Gaza, Anadolu reports. Demonstrators assembled outside the Foreign Office, calling on the government to increase pressure on Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, where tens of thousands of tents have recently been flooded. Carrying Palestinian flags, protesters chanted slogans including “We want justice, we want action, we want boycott, we want sanctions,” and “From London to Palestine, occupation is a crime.” They also chanted “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” During the demonstration, a message demanding an investigation into British complicity was projected onto the Foreign Office building. “We

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  US lawmaker calls for abolishing ICE, ending military aid to Israel

  by EditorMehdi on November 14, 2026

  US Rep. Ro Khanna on Friday called for sweeping changes to US domestic and foreign policy, including abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ending military aid to Israel and keeping the US out of foreign wars, Anadolu reports. Speaking on the second day of the “What’s Next” conference, which brought together Democratic candidates and strategists in Denver, Khanna also pledged to continue seeking accountability for survivors of late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Thomas Massie and I are not giving up our fight for survivors, as we just secured 218 signatures on Epstein 2.0,” Khanna said. The Democratic lawmaker urged his party to reject the influence of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and end US military assistance and

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  Arab Joint List hints at talks with Israeli opposition, outlines demands

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Israel’s Arab Joint List leader Yousef Jabareen hinted Friday at the existence of informal negotiations with the Jewish opposition in the Knesset and outlined his bloc’s main demands, Anadolu reports. In a written statement, the Joint List said Jabareen hinted for the first time at unofficial contacts and negotiations with the opposition over how its lawmakers would vote on opposition proposals. The talks concern, among other issues, the Knesset speakership, repealing laws related to what the Joint List described as the “judicial overhaul,” and the formation of new parliamentary committees. The new Knesset held its inaugural session Tuesday and is scheduled to elect a new speaker next Tuesday. The Joint List said Jabareen’s main demands include repealing the Kaminitz Law,

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  245 Palestinian children killed by Israeli forces in West Bank since October 2023, UN says

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said Friday that Israeli forces had killed 245 Palestinian children in the occupied West Bank since Oct. 7, 2023, including 41 in incidents involving reported stone-throwing. “The killing of a child is deplorable. The killing of a child for simply carrying or throwing stones is abhorrent,” Turk said. He stressed that international law required any use of force to be “necessary and proportional to the threat posed,” adding that violations must be subject to accountability. “There must be accountability for violations,” he said. READ: Palestinian American says Israeli army bars him from entering his West Bank home The occupied West Bank has witnessed intensified Israeli military raids and attacks by Israeli settlers since

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  Israeli attacks kill 6 Palestinians, injure around 20 in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Six Palestinians were killed and around 20 others injured Friday in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip amid continued violations of a ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, 2025, according to medical sources and witnesses, Anadolu reports. In the latest attack, Israeli artillery shelling killed three Palestinians, including a woman and a child, and injured at least 10 others east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, a medical source at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said. Local sources and witnesses said Israeli forces fired several artillery shells toward the area, one of which struck an apartment in a residential tower. The shelling coincided with a nearby condolence gathering, triggering panic among civilians, the sources added. A Palestinian was also moderately injured

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  Israeli delegation to visit UAE Sunday in bid to restore flydubai flights to Tel Aviv

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  An official Israeli delegation is expected to visit the United Arab Emirates on Sunday in an attempt to restore flydubai flights to Tel Aviv, Israel’s Channel 12 reported Friday. The broadcaster said the delegation will seek to persuade Emirati officials to allow the airline’s flights to Tel Aviv to resume. According to Channel 12, flydubai’s suspension of flights to Tel Aviv remains in effect until Dec. 15. In late October, Channel 12 said flydubai had extended the suspension of its flights to and from Tel Aviv until Nov. 30, although the airline had not issued an announcement on the matter. READ: Flydubai extends suspension of Tel Aviv flights until Nov. 30: Israeli media On Sept. 30, the airline temporarily suspended flights

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  Are Gaza and Iran upending the political balance in America?

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  A Democratic wave swept across the United States in the midterm elections, securing the party control of both chambers of Congress and extending to a majority of governorships and of state legislatures. These four major centres of political power give the elections, through their geographical and institutional breadth, the character of a broad popular referendum on the direction of the country and the policies of its future administrations. The election results are linked not only to the war on Iran, but also to the controversy surrounding US support for Israel in its war on Gaza, which was reflected in widespread protests in a number of US states and carried over into the election campaigns. From this perspective, the results represent

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  Iraq establishes special security force to combat oil smuggling, protect pipelines

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Iraq has established a specialized security force to combat oil smuggling and theft and protect its pipeline network, alongside additional measures to tighten security at oil fields and monitor facilities, an official said Friday. Lt. Gen. Hamid al-Husseini, director general of Iraq’s Energy Police, told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that violations were not limited to crude oil pipelines but extended to the country’s wider pipeline network. He said security forces had recently detected attempts to illegally tap pipelines in southern Basra province using advanced sensors and monitoring old valves. Al-Husseini said a new “anti-smuggling and theft force” had been established in the southern region under his direct command. The unit will patrol vast desert areas to protect pipeline

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  Sudanese army, allied forces say they recaptured areas in North Kordofan from RSF

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  The Sudanese army and allied Joint Force said Friday they had recaptured Sarif Ankoush and surrounding areas along the Al-Khuway axis in North Kordofan state following fierce clashes with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the official SUNA news agency. In a statement, the Joint Force said the operation began at dawn and inflicted heavy losses on the RSF in personnel and equipment. It said the commander of the RSF unit stationed in the area was killed during the fighting. The Joint Force added that its troops were conducting extensive search operations and pursuing remaining RSF fighters in the area. READ: US watchdog expose Israeli intelligence links with Sudan’s RSF It vowed to continue operations alongside the Sudanese Armed

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  Israel’s Eisenkot denounces ‘racist, hostile’ campaign against Arab citizens, cites progress in coalition talks

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister-designate Gadi Eisenkot on Friday accused caretaker Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of fueling a “racist and hostile” campaign against Arab citizens for political gain, while reporting progress in talks to form a new government. In a lengthy post on US social media platform X, Eisenkot highlighted that Arab citizens account for more than one-fifth of Israel’s population. “Arab citizens of Israel make up 21 percent of the total population. Since the start of the election campaign, they have faced a racist and violent campaign of delegitimization fueled by the outgoing prime minister and his circle for political reasons.” “The prime minister of Israel is the prime minister of all citizens, including those who did not vote for him,”

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  Yemeni army accuses Houthis of targeting Aden with ballistic missiles

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Yemen’s army said Friday that the Houthi group had targeted civilians and civilian facilities with ballistic missiles in the country’s temporary capital, Aden, Anadolu reports. Military spokesman Col. Majed Abdullah al-Nuzaili said the attack occurred Friday evening, describing it as a serious escalation that threatened the safety of residents. He held the Houthis responsible for the consequences, accusing the group of targeting cities and vital infrastructure whenever it suffered battlefield losses. Al-Nuzaili said the attack violated international humanitarian law and would not deter the armed forces from fulfilling their duties. READ: Yemeni army says 138 Houthis killed, injured in recent military operations He vowed that the army would continue protecting civilians and state institutions, pressing ahead with Operation “Dawn of Yemen”

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  Turkiye, Qatar sign 5 agreements following Erdogan-emir talks in Istanbul

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Turkiye and Qatar signed five agreements covering trade, education, diplomacy and defense Friday following talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in Istanbul, Anadolu reports. The signing ceremony was held at the Presidential Dolmabahce Office following private and delegation-level talks during the 12th meeting of the Turkiye-Qatar High Strategic Committee. Erdogan and al-Thani signed a mutual defense agreement between the two countries. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in peace, reconciliation and conflict resolution. READ: Turkiye, Qatar deepen defense ties with joint production goals The two ministers also signed a joint declaration following the

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  Franco-Palestinian group seeks court ban on Israeli real estate fair in Paris

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  A Franco-Palestinian association has asked a Paris court to ban an Israeli real estate fair scheduled for Sunday in the French capital, alleging that it promotes properties in occupied Palestinian territories, broadcaster FranceInfo reported. The NIDAL association filed an emergency petition with the Paris Administrative Court seeking to prohibit the ninth Icube real estate and investment fair or, alternatively, bar exhibitors from promoting properties in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem. The group pointed to the participation of Israeli real estate company BH Nadlan, which advertises apartments in both areas, and alleged that the event’s promotional materials offer financial incentives to people seeking to settle in the West Bank. The association said it had previously requested intervention from the

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  UN warns Israeli attacks have pushed Gaza’s health system to brink of collapse

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Years of Israeli attacks have pushed the health system in the Gaza Strip to the brink of collapse, the UN warned Friday, Anadolu reports. The UN Human Rights Office in Palestine said in a statement that an Israeli airstrike on Nov. 11 hit a building housing the surgical department at Nasser Medical Complex, killing six Palestinians and injuring around 30 others. The office said Nasser Medical Complex was among the few hospitals still struggling to provide medical services in the besieged enclave. Three missiles were used in the attack, but only one detonated, it said, warning that the unexploded ordnance posed an additional threat to patients, health workers and civilians. The statement also recalled Israeli attacks on Nasser Medical Complex

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  “I have no regrets”: A Brazilian socialist leader sentenced over pro-Palestine speech

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  A Brazilian socialist leader sentenced to two years in prison over a pro-Palestine speech has warned that his conviction could set a dangerous precedent for freedom of expression and expose other Palestine solidarity activists in Brazil to similar prosecutions. José Maria de Almeida, widely known as Zé Maria, president of Brazil’s Unified Socialist Workers’ Party (PSTU), was convicted by a federal court in São Paulo on racism charges over remarks he made during a pro-Palestine demonstration on 22 October 2023. Born in 1957 in São Paulo state, Zé Maria is a veteran socialist and former metalworker whose political activism dates back to Brazil’s military dictatorship (1964–1985). A longstanding figure in the country’s labour movement, he was arrested in 1977 for

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  Israel’s Liberman to head Knesset Foreign Affairs Committee amid coalition talks

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Avigdor Liberman, head of Israel’s Yisrael Beiteinu, said on Friday that he would officially take over as chair of the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, Nov. 16, calling the move a “first step” toward forming a new government, Anadolu reports. “This is the first step toward forming a good government with a stable coalition majority that will lead Israel into a new era,” Liberman wrote on US social media platform X. The committee oversees the security establishment and serves as a “safeguard against military actions taken for political purposes,” he stressed. His statement came amid government formation efforts in Israel following legislative elections on Oct. 27. READ: Opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot slams Netanyahu’s ‘shameful’ Knesset speech, urges Israeli

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  CENTCOM denies Iranian claim of attack on US radar in Bahrain, says 2 drones shot down

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  The US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday denied Iranian claims that its forces had targeted and destroyed a US early-warning radar installation in Bahrain, saying two Iranian drones launched toward the Gulf country were intercepted, Anadolu reports. In a statement on US social media platform X, CENTCOM described the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) claim as false, saying: “The IRGC launched two one-way attack drones toward Bahrain and both were shot down by US forces. There were no injuries or damage.” The IRGC said earlier Friday that it had targeted and destroyed a US early-warning radar facility in Bahrain in retaliation for an attack on a telecommunications tower in Iran’s southern Sirik region. “This serves as a serious warning to

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  9-month-old baby dies from severe cold in Gaza, 1st cold-related death this winter: Health Ministry

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  A 9-month-old Palestinian baby died from severe cold in the Gaza Strip, marking the first recorded cold-related death in the enclave during the current winter season, the Health Ministry said Friday, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by the Gaza Media Office, the ministry identified the infant as Kinan Ahmed Arqiq, saying he died after suffering a sharp drop in body temperature. The baby was transferred from the Kuwaiti Hospital to Nasser Medical Complex on Thursday, where he arrived dead, the ministry said. A forensic examination confirmed that severe hypothermia was the cause of death, it added. The ministry said 10 people died from cold exposure in Gaza during the 2025 winter season. READ: Gaza’s floods are no accident, but the

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  Pro-Palestine protesters in Dublin rally against European Political Community Summit

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Pro-Palestinian demonstrators staged a protest in Dublin, Ireland, on Thursday, against the European Political Community Summit, Anadolu reports. Protesters carrying Palestinian flags, banners and placards marched through the streets and chanted slogans. Clashes broke out between demonstrators and police, with several protesters detained. Dublin hosted the 9th summit of the European Political Community in Dublin, bringing together heads of state and government from across the continent and leaders of key European and international institutions. The forum aims to promote dialogue and cooperation on shared issues, with a focus on security, stability and prosperity in Europe. READ: Pro-Palestine protesters arrested outside UK’s ruling Labour Conference in Liverpool

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  Palestine Book Awards 2026 opens with evening of literary celebration in London

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  The 15th Palestine Book Awards got under way in London last night with a two-hour evening celebrating the authors whose work continues to preserve Palestinian history, land, culture and memory in the face of their erasure. Middle East Monitor’s (MEMO) annual “Meet the Shortlisted Authors” event at the P21 Gallery drew a full house of readers, academics and activists, who heard shortlisted authors discuss the books, research and inspirations behind this year’s nominated works. The evening was hosted by author and translator Hazem Jamjoum, who won last year’s Translation Award for his English translation of Maya Abu Al-Hayyat’s novel No One Knows Their Blood Type. Jamjoum was joined by four of this year’s shortlisted authors: Thomas Suárez, whose Palestine Mapped

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  Israeli strike on vehicle outside wedding hall kills one Palestinian in central Gaza

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  An Israeli strike on a Palestinian-owned vehicle outside a wedding hall killed one person in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip on Thursday, Anadolu reports. The victim was reportedly driving a couple who were making preparations for their wedding. The attack came amid continued Israeli violations of the ceasefire agreement that took effect Oct. 10, 2025. READ: 53 countries, organizations urge Israel to allow rapid humanitarian access to Gaza As of Wednesday, the violations had killed 1,622 Palestinians and wounded 5,878, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The figures do not include Thursday’s casualties. Since Oct. 8, 2023, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians and wounded over 175,000, most of them women and children. The war

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  Israeli Defence Minister says military operations do Not require opposition or judicial approval

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the government does not require approval from the political opposition or judicial authorities to direct military operations in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, Lebanon, Syria or Iran, rejecting calls to limit major security decisions during Israel’s political transition. Katz asserted that the prime minister and defence minister retain the authority to issue military directives despite ongoing negotiations over the formation of a new government. He said this authority extends to ordering targeted killings in Gaza, conducting defensive and offensive operations in Lebanon, maintaining a security zone in Syria to protect communities in the occupied Golan Heights, and continuing military operations in the West Bank. Katz also referred to an Israeli military operation in a

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  Israeli forces shell 5 southern Lebanon towns as drones fly low over Beirut

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  The Israeli army carried out artillery shelling and machine-gun fire against five towns in southern Lebanon on Friday, while drones flew at low altitude over the capital Beirut, according to official media. Lebanon’s National News Agency said an Israeli tank fired two artillery shells toward a house in the Al-Mashaa area of Mayfadoun in the Nabatieh district. In the Marjayoun district, Israeli artillery targeted the towns of Tallousa and Bani Hayyan, accompanied by machine-gun fire toward Tallousa. In the Tyre district, artillery shelling struck Majdal Zoun and Buyout al-Sayyad towns, while Israeli forces opened machine-gun fire toward the main road leading to the town of Al-Mansouri. READ: Israeli army builds new roads linking military posts in southern Lebanon The agency also

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  Gulf states welcome UN resolution calling on Houthis to halt attacks

  by EditorMehdi on November 13, 2026

  Gulf Cooperation Council’s Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi welcomed on Friday a UN Security Council Resolution urging Yemen’s Houthi group to halt its attacks immediately, Anadolu reports. Albudaiwi “welcomed the international consensus on the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2837, which demands the terrorist Houthi militia to halt its military escalation and attacks immediately and unconditionally, including assaults targeting civilian populations and civilian infrastructure,” according to a statement issued by the bloc. The secretary-general appreciated the UK’s efforts in submitting the draft resolution. READ: Saudi-led coalition says it destroys Houthi missile launcher in Sanaa targeting eastern Saudi Arabia  “This resolution represents a significant step in consolidating the international stance that rejects the treacherous Houthi attacks,” he stated, according to the statement.