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

• 
  Lebanon secures $360M to rebuild war-damaged south, premier says

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  A total of $360 million has been secured to help rebuild areas of southern Lebanon damaged during Israel’s latest war, Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Saturday, Anadolu reports. Salam made the announcement during a visit to southern Lebanon, saying in a post on US social media company X that the government will launch “reconstruction projects after securing the necessary funding.” The financing includes $250 million in concessional loans from the World Bank, €75 million from the French Development Agency, and €35 million in grants provided by the EU, France, and Denmark, he added. Lebanon’s government has previously said the cost of reconstruction resulting from the latest Israeli offensive will be no less than $5 billion. Former Prime Minister Najib Mikati

• 
  Israel’s actions destabilizing entire region: Iranian foreign minister

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Israel’s actions are “destabilizing” the entire region, calling for Tel Aviv to be held accountable and for sanctions to be imposed over violations it commits in countries across the region, particularly in Palestine, Anadolu reports. His remarks came during a speech at the opening of the 17th edition of the Al Jazeera Forum, held in the Qatari capital Doha from Feb. 7 to 9 under the theme “The Palestinian Cause and the Regional Balance of Power in the Context of an Emerging Multipolar World.” Araghchi said that the Palestinian cause “is the defining question of justice in West Asia and beyond. It is the strategic and moral compass of our region. It

• 
  Solidarity rally held in Paris for Palestinians, other communities facing repression worldwide

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Hundreds of people gathered in the French capital on Saturday for a solidarity rally with the people of Palestine, Haiti, Venezuela, New Caledonia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan, Anadolu reports. Responding to calls from various associations, demonstrators assembled at Place de la Nation to protest what they described as “discrimination and oppression” faced by those communities. Participants expressed support for the affected populations while carrying banners reading “Boycott Israel” along with the flags of the nations mentioned. Some members of France’s Yellow Vests movement also joined the demonstration, which was held under police supervision. READ: Thousands rally in Paris on International Day of Solidarity with Palestinians

• 
  Syria, Saudi Arabia sign mega strategic agreements in Damascus

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Syria and Saudi Arabia signed on Saturday a series of mega strategic agreements in Damascus covering aviation, telecommunications, infrastructure and real estate, SANA news agency reported, Anadolu reports. The ceremony was held at the People’s Palace and attended by Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih. Talal al-Hilali, head of the Syrian Investment Authority, said the parties gathered to sign several “strategic agreements” in vital sectors that directly affect citizens’ lives. The deals aim to strengthen telecommunications infrastructure, develop digital connectivity systems and shape a new phase of partnership based on mutual trust and respect, he added. Al-Falih said Saudi Arabia stands alongside Syria and supports its path toward recovery, growth and stability. He announced the launch of

• 
  Israeli army kills Palestinian man east of Gaza City in violation of ceasefire

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  A Palestinian was killed by Israeli gunfire on Saturday in the Shejaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City, an area from which the army had previously withdrawn under the ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. The incident came amid Israel’s daily violations of the ceasefire deal, which entered into force on Oct. 10, 2025. A medical source told Anadolu that the Palestinian, Faraj Ibrahim Salem, 30, was killed by Israeli fire in the Shejaiya neighborhood east of Gaza City. Eyewitnesses told Anadolu that Salem was shot dead in an area located outside the zones of Israeli army deployment and control under the agreement. Earlier Saturday, Israeli artillery shelled various areas east of Gaza City and east of the town of Jabalia in the northern

• 
  Iran ready for reassuring enrichment deal, rejects zero enrichment: Foreign minister

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday that Tehran is ready to reach a “reassuring agreement” on uranium enrichment, stressing that zero enrichment is outside the framework of negotiations, Anadolu reports. Speaking to the Qatar-based Al Jazeera channel, Araghchi said the Iranian nuclear file can only be resolved through negotiations, noting that Washington returned to talks after previously resorting to military action. “Negotiations are the only way to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue,” Araghchi said, adding that talks with Washington marked “a good starting point,” though a “long road remains to rebuild trust” between the two sides. He emphasized that Iran’s missile program is not subject to negotiations, now or in the future, describing it as a “defensive matter.” Araghchi

• 
  Thousands of Houthis rally in Sanaa against Israeli strikes on Gaza

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Thousands of Houthis gathered in the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Friday, to condemn Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip in violation of the ceasefire, Anadolu reports. The ceasefire ended an Israeli offensive that began in October 2023 and lasted two years, killing nearly 72,000 Palestinians and wounding over 171,000 others, while destroying about 90% of Gaza’s infrastructure. Despite a ceasefire that took effect in October 2025, the Israeli army has continued to violate it, killing 574 Palestinians and wounding 1,518 others, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. READ: Houthi leader calls for solidarity marches for Palestine, says group is ready for next round with Israel

• 
  UNICEF says at least 20 Sudanese children killed in January

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  At least 20 Sudanese children were killed in January, most of them in the Kordofan and Darfur regions in western Sudan, UNICEF said Friday, Anadolu reports. The deaths were cited in a report published by the UN children’s agency addressing the situation of children across the region, including Sudan. “In Sudan, in January 2026, at least 20 children were killed, most of them killed in the Kordofan and Darfur states,” UNICEF said. The agency warned that “millions of children in Sudan require lifesaving assistance, protection and the restoration of essential services” as fighting continues to devastate large parts of the country. UNICEF said famine has already been confirmed in Al Fasher in North Darfur and in Kadugli in Kordofan, with nearly

• 
  Epstein and the quiet financing of occupation

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  There are crimes that shock because they are brutal, and there are crimes that endure because they are respectable, well documented, tax-deductible, and protected by silence. The story that emerges from the Epstein financial records belongs firmly to the second category, not because it is less violent, but because it shows how modern violence survives through institutions that look lawful, ethical, and even benevolent. Jeffrey Epstein is usually remembered as a symbol of sexual abuse, elite corruption, and judicial failure, but this memory, while necessary, is also incomplete. Epstein was not simply a criminal operating outside the system; he was a man fully embedded within it, moving money through charities, donating to universities and foundations, attending elite gatherings, and participating

• 
  US Democratic lawmaker slams Israeli lobbying group for spending in New Jersey primary

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sharply criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) on Friday, saying the pro-Israel lobby undermines democracy, Anadolu reports. “I hope Dems begin to see that moderate or progressive, AIPAC is not our friend,” Ocasio-Cortez wrote on X. She accused the group of backing Jan. 6 insurrectionists while pressuring elected officials to ignore US laws, including the Leahy laws that prohibit assistance to foreign forces committing human rights abuses. “They are a right-wing organization that undermines democracy,” she said. “They have zero tolerance for any diversity of thought from their line, and pressure elected officials to increasingly place themselves at odds with our responsibility to represent the electorate and the views of the majority of Americans, who

• 
  US plans Board of Peace meeting on Gaza reconstruction Feb. 19: Report

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  The White House is planning to host a leaders’ summit of the Gaza “Board of Peace” on Feb. 19 to advance the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire and raise funding for reconstruction in the war-ravaged Palestinian territory, Axios reported Friday, citing US and diplomatic sources, Anadolu reports. “It will be the first Board of Peace meeting and a fundraising conference for Gaza reconstruction,” Axios quoted a US official. The Trump administration has begun reaching out to dozens of countries to invite leaders and discuss logistics, according to the report. The meeting is expected to be held at the Institute of Peace in Washington. “Nothing has been confirmed yet, but the administration is planning it and has started checking which leaders

• 
  Tehran wants to make deal ‘very badly’: Trump

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  US President Donald Trump claimed Friday that Iran “wants to make a deal very badly,” following “good talks” in Oman, Anadolu reports. “We have to see what that deal is. But I think Iran looks like they want to make a deal very badly,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump cited US military movements in the region. “We have a big armada, and we have a big fleet heading in that direction, gonna be there pretty soon. So, we’ll see how that works out.” The president said additional talks are expected early next week and warned Tehran of serious consequences if negotiations fail. “We’re going to meet again early next week, and they want to make a deal, Iran,

• 
  Jeers target US, Israeli delegations during Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  The opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Friday was marked by audible boos from the crowd as delegations from the US and Israel entered the San Siro stadium, Anadolu reports. US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the American delegation. As Vance appeared on the stadium’s big screen, waving the US flag, the crowd responded with jeers, according to live coverage of the event. “There is the Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha. Oops — those are a lot of boos for him,” an announcer was heard saying during the broadcast. The reaction followed days of tension surrounding the participation of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Olympic

• 
  One Sphere? Not in the Middle East

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  In his recent Foreign Affairs essay, “There Is Only One Sphere of Influence: Why America Can Project Power With Little Constraint—And Its Rivals Cannot,” Michael Beckley argues that despite the widespread rhetoric of multipolarity, the world remains structurally unipolar. Only the United States, he contends, possesses the capacity to project sustained military, financial, and diplomatic power globally without meaningful constraint. China and Russia, though formidable, remain regionally bounded. As a structural assessment of material capabilities, the argument is internally coherent. The United States maintains an unparalleled global military footprint, commands unmatched naval reach, anchors the dollar-based financial system, and sustains deep alliance networks. Measured purely in aggregate capability, American primacy remains undeniable. But from the vantage point of the Middle

• 
  US lawmaker calls for halt to weapons transfers to Israel amid Gaza violence

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Rep. Delia Ramirez said on Friday that there is no ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and accused the US of enabling continued violence through its military support for Israel, Anadolu reports. “There is no ceasefire in Gaza. US-supplied bombs are still being used to murder Palestinians,” Ramirez said on US social media company X, sharing a report that said Israeli strikes killed at least 30 Palestinians, including several children last week in the besieged enclave despite a ceasefire. Ramirez urged lawmakers to assert congressional authority over US foreign military assistance and support her proposed legislation, the Block The Bombs Act. “Congress must assert its authority and put an end to the genocide. We must pass my Block The Bombs Act, which

• 
  Doctors Without Borders says 10 killed in 2 drone attacks in western Sudan

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  At least 10 people were killed and 25 wounded in two drone attacks in western Sudan near the border with Chad, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said Friday, Anadolu reports. The medical charity said 29 people were transferred to a hospital it supports in the Tina area of eastern Chad following the attacks. MSF did not identify the party responsible for the strikes. Six people were killed at the scene, while four others later died from severe injuries, it said in a post on US social media company X. One MSF staff member in Tina said the situation at the hospital was “extremely critical,” noting that patients continue to arrive with heavy bleeding and serious wounds. READ: UN says 8.1 million women in

• 
  Iran’s protests and the question of external involvement

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  In recent weeks, Donald Trump and a large section of the international media have pushed a familiar storyline: that protesters in Iran want the United States to step in militarily and bring down the country’s leadership. Trump has paired that messaging with threats of major military action. He has not limited his demands to how Iranian authorities treat demonstrators. He has also insisted that Iran abandon what he describes as a nuclear weapons pursuit and give up long-range missiles and other defensive capabilities. None of this changes a basic reality inside Iran. Many Iranians have taken to the streets because daily life has become punishing. Prices have surged, the currency has lost value and families have watched wages fall behind

• 
  Lebanese army chief discusses military, security ties with US officials in Washington

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Lebanese Army Commander Rodolphe Haykal met with senior US officials in Washington, DC, to discuss strengthening military and security cooperation between the two countries, regional security developments, and the challenges facing the country, the Lebanese army said on Friday, Anadolu reports. Haykal visited the US from Feb. 2 to Feb. 5 at the invitation of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, as part of efforts to support military cooperation and review current security challenges, according to an army statement. The visit aimed to bolster Lebanese-US military and security relations and continue dialogue between the two armies’ leaderships, within the framework of ongoing consultation and coordination with international partners. During the visit, Haykal held a series of meetings with White House advisers,

• 
  New Yemeni government formed under Shaya al-Zindani with 34 ministers

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council approved the formation of a new government headed by Prime Minister Shaya al-Zindani, with a 34-member cabinet that includes three women, the Saba News Agency reported Friday, Anadolu reports. Al-Zindani will also serve as Minister of Foreign affairs and Expatriates. The cabinet includes Maamar Motahar al-Eryani as Information Minister, Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Ali Ahmed Haidan as Interior Minister, and Maj. Gen. Taher Ali Obeidah al-Oqaili as Defense Minister. Among the female ministers named are Afrah Abdulaziz al-Zouba as Minister of Planning and International Cooperation, Ahd Mohammed Salem Jaasous as Minister of State for Women’s affairs, and Judge Ishraq Fadl al-Maqtari, according to the announcement. The formation of the government was approved in line with Yemen’s constitution, the

• 
  Trump’s five impossible demands, and the inevitable second strike against Iran

  by MI on February 7, 2026

  As American naval forces assemble in the Indian Ocean, diplomats started negotiations in  Muscat on Friday; the region is standing at the precipice. President Trump, buoyed by his recent spectacular success in Venezuela, is entering these talks with Iran with demands that can only be described as maximalist. The conditions are so extreme that even the most seasoned diplomats are calling them a dead-on-arrival. As reported by the Israeli newspaper Maariv, the United States has made five core demands of the Iranian government. The demands are the transfer of 400 kilograms of enriched uranium, the destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities, the destruction of its ballistic missile capability, the end of its missile program, and the end of its support of

• 
  Israeli army hits 3-story building in Gaza despite ceasefire

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Despite a ceasefire, the Israeli army targeted a residential area in eastern Gaza City, on Friday, Anadolu reports. The attack targeted a three-story building near the Asqula Junction in the Zaytoun neighborhood. Flames and thick smoke rose from the area after the attack. Israel has continued to violate the ceasefire deal despite a January announcement by the US administration that the second phase of the agreement had begun. That phase includes additional Israeli withdrawals from Gaza and the launch of reconstruction efforts, which the United Nations estimates will cost about 70 billion dollars. The ceasefire halted an Israeli offensive that began in October 2023 and lasted more than a year, killing nearly 72,000 Palestinians and wounding more than 171,000 others,

• 
  Israel’s Netanyahu attacks former premier Ehud Barak, says ‘Epstein did not work for Israel’

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu used the renewed focus on the Epstein files to attack his predecessor Ehud Barak, saying that Jeffrey Epstein “did not work for Israel”, Anadolu reports. The Jerusalem Post daily reported that Barak’s ties to Epstein received extensive media attention after the two met several times in 2015 and 2016, years after Epstein’s first criminal conviction. Photos circulated at the time showed Barak entering Epstein’s Manhattan residence in New York. In his first public comment on the Epstein documents, Netanyahu wrote on US social media company X that Epstein’s “unusual close relationship with Ehud Barak doesn’t suggest Epstein worked for Israel. It proves the opposite.” “Stuck on his election loss from over two decades ago, Barak

• 
  US-Iran talks in Oman end without either side making significant concessions: Report

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Indirect talks between the US and Iran in Oman ended without either side making major concessions, according to a report on Friday. The two sides did not meet face to face, instead holding alternating discussions through Omani diplomats, with neither shifting from its initial position during the talks, people familiar with the discussions told The Wall Street Journal. It remained unclear how the discussions affected broader efforts to reach a diplomatic solution on Iran’s nuclear program, as expectations ahead of the meeting were already low among regional officials and analysts, the report added. READ: Concern about Iran is ‘very, very high,’ Merz says during Abu Dhabi visit Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described Friday’s talks as a “good start,” saying they

• 
  Israeli forces detain journalists, foreign activists in southern West Bank following settler attacks

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Israeli forces on Friday detained two journalists, two foreign solidarity activists and a Palestinian anti-settlement activist in the southern West Bank city of Hebron while they were documenting attacks carried out by illegal settlers, according to local sources. Osama Makhamera, a Palestinian activist involved in resisting settlement expansion, told Anadolu that Israeli forces stormed the Rujum al-Aala area after illegal settlers attacked residents of the Masafer Yatta region, south of Hebron. He said the forces detained two journalists working with a foreign media outlet, along with two foreign activists and Rateb al-Jbour, coordinator of the popular and national committees opposing Israeli settlement activity in southern Hebron, as they were documenting the settler assault. Makhamera added that the detainees were taken

• 
  Geneva Academy warns Gaza death toll could top 200,000

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Stuart Casey Maslen, head of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, said that as of October 2023, Gaza’s population had declined by more than 10%, which would suggest roughly 200,000 deaths. Speaking to Anadolu about the academy’s report titled ‘War Watch’, which covers the situation in Gaza and 23 armed conflicts over the past 18 months, Maslen described the situation in Gaza as “dramatic”. “We’re obviously pleased that we do not have the heavy hostilities we saw last year before the ceasefire. But that does not mean the suffering for the people of Gaza has ended. We remain deeply concerned about the predicament of all the population in Gaza,” Maslen told Anadolu. Expressing particular concern for

• 
  Israel secretly backs armed militias in Gaza: Report

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Israel has been covertly supporting armed militias operating in the Gaza Strip with money, weapons and field protection in an attempt to counter Hamas, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported Friday, while expressing skepticism over the strategy’s impact, Anadolu reports. The newspaper said foreign reports indicate that Israel has supplied the militias with rifles and ammunition, alongside logistical assistance such as fuel, food, vehicles and other supplies. According to the report, the backing has enabled the militias to operate within areas close to Israeli troop deployments, allowing them to entrench themselves near Israeli-controlled zones inside the enclave. The cost of the support is estimated at tens of millions of shekels, funded from the Israeli army’s budget. The militias reportedly operate in

• 
  Polish foreign minister questions logic and cost of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ plan

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Poland’s foreign minister on Friday raised public doubts about Warsaw joining the controversial “Board of Peace” initiative launched by US President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. Speaking in Washington, Radoslaw Sikorski addressed Poland’s possible role in the new multinational body, which was announced at last month’s World Economic Forum and is intended to oversee post-conflict reconstruction, especially in the Gaza Strip. Under the proposal, permanent member states would be expected to contribute $1 billion each to a reconstruction fund controlled by the board. Sikorski said such a levy should not be assumed without clear justification. “I want to hear why the Polish taxpayer should rebuild Gaza, which we didn’t destroy,” Sikorski told a press briefing, questioning both the cost and logic of Poland’s

• 
  Lebanon, Syria agree to transfer over 300 Syrian prisoners to Damascus

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Lebanon and Syria on Friday reached an agreement to transfer over 300 Syrian prisoners from Lebanese prisons to Damascus, in a move aimed at addressing the long-standing file of Syrian detainees in the country, Anadolu reports. Lebanese Deputy Prime Minister Tarek Mitri announced the agreement at a joint press conference in Beirut with Syrian Justice Minister Mazhar Al-Wais, saying implementation will begin on Saturday. Mitri said the deal covers the handover of sentenced prisoners and “reflects a shared political will between Beirut and Damascus to reset bilateral relations on the basis of mutual trust and respect.” He described the agreement as a practical step toward resolving the issue of Syrian inmates held in Lebanon, particularly those detained during the years of the

• 
  Concern about Iran is ‘very, very high,’ Merz says during Abu Dhabi visit

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that concern about Iran is “very, very high” among regional leaders, calling on Tehran to return to negotiations with the US and halt its nuclear program, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters in Abu Dhabi after meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Merz said all his conversation partners in the Gulf region expressed deep concern about Iran due to their close geographical proximity. “Intensive diplomatic contacts are underway to persuade Iran to cease violence against its own people, end its nuclear program, and return to the negotiating table, where peace and stability throughout the region will be negotiated,” he said. READ: Turkey’s Erdogan blasts Merz: Does Germany not see Israeli genocide in Gaza?

• 
  UK Home Secretary urged to rein in violent anti-Iran protests

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  The Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has today, Friday, called on the UK Home Secretary to take immediate action to protect the public from violent protestors claiming to be demonstrating against the government of Iran but are in fact targeting Muslim community institutions and Iranian restaurants and businesses across the UK. The Commission said the most notable aggression is centred on the Islamic Centre of England (although not limited to it nor confined to the capital – religious centres in Birmingham and Manchester have also seen similar attacks). The centre has experienced organised violence by highly charged mobs intent on doing damage to the premises and the people. A statement from the IHRC read: “The protestors seem to be following

• 
  Israel’s Netanyahu again dodges responsibility for Oct. 7 failures, blames army, past governments

  by MI on February 6, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has once again avoided taking responsibility for the failures surrounding the Oct. 7, 2023 events, instead shifting blame to the military and previous governments, according to Israeli media on Friday, Anadolu reports. Late Thursday, Netanyahu released the responses he submitted to State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman regarding the events, saying the document was handed over at the end of 2025. Israel’s Channel 12 reported that in a 55-page document, Netanyahu declined to accept any personal responsibility, placing most of the blame on the defense establishment and former administrations. The public broadcaster KAN said Netanyahu presented minutes from pre-Oct. 7 meetings during a parliamentary committee session, reading selected remarks by former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, former army chief Gadi

• 
  Gaza’s Rafah gate opens under tight Israeli restrictions

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  As of early February 2026, the Rafah border crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt has partially reopened for the first time in nearly two years, allowing a very restricted number of people to pass through under stringent Israeli supervision. Initially only five to fifteen patients were allowed to leave for medical treatment, despite thousands being on waiting lists. Pedestrians went through. Humanitarian aid, construction materials, and commercial goods were gridlocked. The crossing is multi-stage security managed by Israel. A new checkpoint, named “Regavim” has been established by the Israeli military in an area under its control to vet returnees. Though heavily restricted, the opening is significant. Approximately 20,000 to 22,000 sick and injured Palestinians still wait to be evacuated for

• 
  Christian Zionist support for Israel driving ‘exodus’ of ancient Holy Land Christians

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  In their blind support for Israel, American Christians are aiding the erasure of their fellow Christian community in Palestine. That is the stark message delivered in a new on-the-ground podcast report by Tucker Carlson, filmed on the banks of the River Jordan near the site traditionally believed to be where Jesus was baptised. The episode features Anglican Archbishop of Jerusalem Hosam Naoum and Saad Mouasher, a Christian Jordanian and chairman of the Jordan Ahli Bank. The podcast has been praised for challenging decades of Israeli-driven propaganda vilifying Palestinians and Muslims. Carlson’s report focuses on a question rarely aired in mainstream Western debate: how Christians are treated under Israeli rule. It also contrasts that experience with the long history of Muslim–Christian

• 
  ‘Dumped at a checkpoint’: US exposed for secret deportation of Palestinians via Israeli billionaire’s jet

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Fresh revelations have emerged about the controversial US deportation of Palestinians using private jets owned by an Israeli billionaire. Reports published last month revealed that the US has been quietly removing Palestinian men to the illegally occupied West Bank aboard a private aircraft owned by a close associate of Donald Trump. Now, new details uncovered by +972 Magazine and The Guardian — in a joint investigation titled “U.S. secretly deporting Palestinians to West Bank in coordination with Israel” — shed more light on how the deportations were carried out. According to the exposé, the US coordinated the removals directly with Israeli authorities. The men were shackled for the entire journey and eventually dropped at a military checkpoint in the West

• 
  The Kiswah in Epstein’s world: Paedophilia, orientalism and power

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  The disclosure that pieces of the Kiswah, the sacred cloth covering the holy Kaaba, were shipped to Jeffrey Epstein should not be an investigative curiosity lost among court proceedings. It is a blasphemous scandal that exposes how power operates through violation. According to unsealed correspondence cited in recent reporting, multiple pieces of the Kiswah were transferred to Epstein through intermediaries with access to Saudi religious networks. This was not an innocent exchange of art or a cultural misunderstanding. It was a breach that implicates both Epstein and the authorities responsible for safeguarding Islam’s most sacred symbol. The Kiswah is not a decorative textile or a historical relic. It covers the Kaaba, the spiritual axis of Islam and the focal point

• 
  Gaza’s al-Shifa hospital director reports alleged Israeli abuses against Gaza victims’ bodies

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, has revealed what he described as shocking details about alleged violations by Israeli forces against the bodies of people killed during the war and later withheld. Speaking to Al Arabi TV, Abu Salmiya said medical teams examined bodies that were returned and found them “in a very poor condition”. He added that there was evidence of organs being stolen from victims who had previously been detained by Israel. He said Israel handed over 66 boxes to the Palestinian side, which were later found to contain only skulls, describing this as a sign of the brutal treatment of the bodies. Abu Salmiya explained that many of the bodies showed severe

• 
  Sudan: 22 killed, including medical staff, in shelling of hospital in South Kordofan

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  At least 22 people, including four medical workers, were killed when the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) shelled Al-Kuweik Hospital in South Kordofan state, Sudan Doctors Network said on Thursday. The network said eight other people were injured in the attack. Those killed included the medical director of Al-Kuweik Military Hospital and three members of the hospital’s medical staff. It added that the shelling caused heavy loss of life and serious damage to the health facility. Al- Kuweik Hospital is the third health facility to be targeted in South Kordofan in less than 72 hours. Around 50 per cent of medical facilities in the state are now out of service because of shelling and siege, according to the network. Sudan Doctors Network condemned the

• 
  Brazil’s Lula: No Peace Council without Palestinians and Gaza must be the priority

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

  Brazil signalled conditional openness to joining a proposed international “Peace Council” on Gaza, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stressing that any such framework must include Palestinian representation to be credible. In a recorded interview with Brazilian news outlet Universo Online (UOL) on Thursday, Lula said Brazil would consider participation only if the council’s mandate is limited to Gaza and Palestinians are present at the table. “Any path that does not include Palestinians cannot be considered a peace committee,” he said. Lula revealed that he conveyed this position directly to US President Donald Trump, telling him that Brazil has “every interest” in participating if the initiative is genuinely focused on Gaza. He criticised ideas circulating about post-war reconstruction, arguing

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

• 
  What is Israel planning for Palestinians in the West Bank?

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

• 
  Somalia ratifies maritime cooperation agreement with Turkey

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

• 
  Mandelson: Trapped in the Epstein web

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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

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

  by Marwa A on February 6, 2026

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