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

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  5 Lebanese soldiers injured in Israeli attack in south, military says

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Five Lebanese soldiers were wounded Sunday in an Israeli attack in southern Lebanon, the army said, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the soldiers sustained minor injuries in the town of Kafra in Bint Jbeil while escorting civilians in an army vehicle. The army did not provide further details on the circumstances or the type of strike and there was no comment from the Israeli army yet. Separately, Lebanon’s National News Agency said Israeli forces detonated explosives in the town of Kounine in Nabatieh, with the blasts heard across several areas in southern Lebanon. The agency also reported explosions shortly after midnight in the vicinity of the town of Haddatha, also in the Bint Jbeil district. READ: Israeli violations in Lebanon may

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  Comparing Israel to Nazi regime is not a criminal offense, German court rules

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  A German court ruled that comparing Israel to the Nazi regime is not a criminal offense, the legal website beck online reported, Anadolu reports. In the case, in several Instagram posts, a user had compared the actions of the state of Israel to the methods of the Nazi regime—and in doing so used the Nazi swastika and the Nazi party flag. Citing her right to freedom of speech, a higher regional court in the southwestern city of Zweibruckem has acquitted her of any wrongdoing, according to the report published earlier this week. According to the court, the criminal offense of using symbols of unconstitutional organizations is not fulfilled if someone uses the symbols to sharp criticize the state of Israel’s methods

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  Former Israeli premier says Trump ignores Netanyahu, Gaza framework sidelines Israel

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak said Sunday that a new Gaza framework sidelines Israel, arguing that US President Donald Trump “no longer” places much weight on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Anadolu reports. ​​​​​​​“The agreement’s language is highly ambiguous, but the general direction is clear. Israel and its demands are being ignored,” Barak said in an interview with Israel’s public broadcaster KAN. He claimed that the framework does not require the complete disarmament of Hamas, the removal of weapons from the Gaza Strip or the exile of the group’s leadership. “Instead, it speaks about ending assassinations and returning to control over 53% of the Gaza Strip instead of 65%,” he said. Barak described the situation as “a painful reality.” “The painful

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  Israeli forces search civilians in new incursion into southern Syria

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Israeli forces carried out a new incursion into Syria’s southern Quneitra province on Sunday and set up a temporary checkpoint to search civilians and passing vehicles, according to the Syria Arab News Agency (SANA), Anadolu reports. A patrol of three Israeli military vehicles advanced along the Al-Hiran–Al-Rafid Road in the southern countryside of Quneitra, where troops established a checkpoint to inspect passersby and vehicles, SANA said. No arrests or clashes were reported. The latest incursion came a day after the Israeli army raided and searched a house in Wadi al-Ruqqad in the western countryside of neighboring Daraa province, according to Syria’s Alikhbariah TV. The broadcaster did not provide further details about the operation. Southern Syria has witnessed recurring Israeli incursions and

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  Israeli occupiers cut power to West Bank town as army arrests 5 Palestinians

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Israeli occupiers on Sunday cut electricity to a Palestinian town in the occupied West Bank by attacking power infrastructure, while the Israeli army arrested five Palestinians during raids across several areas, Anadolu reports. Official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported that a group of occupiers attacked Madama in the northern West Bank, near the city of Nablus, cutting and damaging electricity poles, causing power outages in the northern part of the town. In a separate incident, Israeli forces arrested two Palestinians after raiding eastern Nablus and searching their homes, Wafa said. Israeli forces also raided the nearby town of Tel, southwest of Nablus, searching several homes without making any arrests, according to the agency. READ: Israeli defense minister says government approved 104 illegal

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  Football lucre: The revolt against Infantino’s funding plans

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  It is a stew of inedible quality.  But eat it we are expected to do.  Consider the stomach-churning ingredients.  FIFA, an opaque organisation of mafia qualities that governs world football.  Add to the mix crawling-to-power President Gianni Infantino, a preposterous darling of authoritarian favour.  Mix in his cringeworthy, very public association with US President Donald Trump, peace prize and all.  And money. Money, money and some.  Will that contaminated mix set? Not happy with the loot secured from the just concluded Men’s World Cup, stained by criminally high-ticket sales and returns from the secondary market, Infantino was onto another venture.  This one, largely kept from most of the organisational cadres of FIFA and virtually everybody else, would involve the creation

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  Trump reaffirms Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Saturday reaffirmed Washington’s recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, saying that “any other path” to resolving the dispute is “unacceptable,” Anadolu reports. “The United States has been clear: we recognize Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, and we support Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal as the only basis for a just and lasting solution,” Trump said in a message to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI. “Any other path prolongs the status quo and is unacceptable. This urgently needed solution will not only bring peace to the region but prosperity and greater integration for all of Africa. This dispute must end now, and the United States will continue to drive progress toward that end.” READ: Morocco

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  Gaza Health Ministry warns medical system nearing collapse after Israel destroys drug warehouse

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Gaza’s Health Ministry warned Saturday that the enclave’s medical system is rapidly approaching collapse after Israeli forces destroyed a drug warehouse at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, amid severe shortages of medicines and medical supplies, Anadolu reports. Earlier Saturday, the ministry said the Israeli army destroyed two warehouses containing essential medicines and medical supplies and severely damaged two others in strikes on storage facilities at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Munir Al-Bursh, director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, told Anadolu that Israeli attacks were no longer limited to patients, medical staff and hospitals but had expanded to include medicine warehouses. “The Israeli occupation targeted the drug warehouse of the kidney department behind the outpatient building at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital after prior notification,

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  Egypt steps up contacts to implement Cairo understandings on Gaza ceasefire

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Egypt has intensified contacts with the parties involved to advance implementation of the Cairo understandings on the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, Egyptian sources said Saturday, Anadolu reports. Egypt’s Al Qahera News channel quoted the sources as saying Cairo is holding “intensive contacts” regarding the implementation of understandings reached by the mediators and Palestinian factions to complete the agreement. The sources said a meeting involving the mediators will be held soon in Cairo to reaffirm all parties’ commitment to implementing the agreement’s provisions. They added that Hamas and other Palestinian factions are engaging positively with Egypt’s efforts and those of the other mediators, expressing hope that successful implementation of the agreement would pave the way for the reconstruction of

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  Trump cancels planned strikes on Iran to allow for talks on peace deal

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Saturday that he canceled a planned military strike against Iran after Tehran and “other Middle Eastern countries” requested time to finalize the framework of a peace deal, saying Israel has joined the commitment, Anadolu reports. In a post on his proprietary social media platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that the sides agreed to the “perimeters” of a potential deal that would include the “immediate, complete, and total” reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and an end to Iran’s nuclear threat. Trump said he agreed to cancel the attack “for the future benefit of the WORLD and, likewise, the survival of a successful and prosperous Iran,” adding that the decision is subject to the parties being able

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  Israeli media say 10 more US refueling aircraft heading to Ben Gurion Airport

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Ten additional US aerial refueling aircraft are on their way to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, bringing the number stationed there to 40, Israeli media reported Saturday, Anadolu reports. The Calcalist newspaper said the aircraft are expected to join 30 US refueling planes already parked at the airport. It cited the Israel Airports Authority, which said the unusually large number of military aircraft has placed a significant operational burden on the airport, causing civil flight delays of around two hours in recent days, with disruptions expected to worsen once the additional aircraft arrive. The report noted that the airport typically experiences its busiest travel period during July and August. READ: Israeli airstrike destroys medical warehouses near hospital in central Gaza Israel’s Transportation Ministry

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  152 killed in Gaza in July, highest monthly death toll this year: Gaza’s Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday that 152 people were killed in the enclave during July, marking the highest monthly death toll recorded since the beginning of this year, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the ministry said data from its Health Information Center showed a sharp increase in fatalities across the Gaza Strip during the past month, with 152 people killed in various governorates. The ministry said the victims included 21 children, 14 women and four elderly people, saying the figures reflected the direct impact of the continued escalation on civilians and densely populated residential areas. READ: Board of Peace sets $400M limit for Gaza administration’s financial commitments Despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect on Oct. 10, 2025, Israel has continued to

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  Saudi crown prince voices concern to Trump about reported Iran strike plans: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on August 2, 2026

  Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman voiced concern Saturday during a call with US President Donald Trump about reported plans for new large-scale strikes on Iran, said two US officials and another source familiar with the conversation, according to the Axios website, Anadolu reports. The call came as the US is reportedly preparing a large-scale attack on Iran. The development followed security alerts issued by US embassies in the Middle East warning Americans of “unforeseen escalation,” a day after Trump threatened to hit Iran “very hard.” READ: Saudi US lobbying boosted with ex-House Foreign Affairs chair in its team Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, meanwhile, warned in calls with his Turkish, Pakistani and Saudi counterparts that any “aggression” by the US and

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  Hundreds protest in Sweden’s Stockholm against Israeli attacks on Gaza, West Bank

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Hundreds of people gathered in the Swedish capital Stockholm on Saturday to protest Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. The demonstration, held at Odenplan Square, called for an immediate ceasefire. Carrying Palestinian flags, demonstrators marched with banners reading “There is a massacre in Palestine,” “There is genocide in Gaza,” and “Immediate permanent ceasefire for Gaza.” Israeli Knesset member Ofer Cassif addressed the rally via video link, criticizing the Israeli government’s policies toward Palestinians. Citing Israeli philosopher and scientist Yeshayahu Leibowitz, Cassif said the scholar had warned that when a state elevates military power and territorial expansion above all else, it risks moral collapse. Leibowitz also warned that such a mindset could give rise

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  Israeli occupiers torch Palestinian vehicle, attack home in southern West Bank

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Israeli occupiers set fire to a Palestinian vehicle and attacked a home near the town of Surif, north of Hebron in the southern occupied West Bank, early Saturday, according to a local resident, Anadolu reports. Ali Ghneimat told Anadolu that occupiers “attacked the outskirts of Surif from the direction of the Etzion settlement” at around 2.30 am local time (2330GMT Friday). “They set fire to one vehicle and attempted to burn another,” he said. The occupiers also “attacked a house and attempted to set it on fire,” but residents gathered in its courtyard thwarted the attack, Ghneimat said. He added that the assault caused fear and panic, particularly among women and children. Residents of the area remain in a constant

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  Israeli police disperse protest by ultra-Orthodox Jews in Jerusalem

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Israeli police on Saturday dispersed a protest by ultra-Orthodox Jews in central Jerusalem against a cafe opening during the Jewish Sabbath, Anadolu reports. Haredi protesters broke through police barriers outside the Basmta cafe on Agripas Street, Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth reported. The protesters clashed with patrons of the cafe who had formed a human chain at its entrance. Footage showed some patrons pulling the prayer shawls, known as tallit, worn by protesters who attempted to enter the cafe. Police intervened and used batons to disperse the demonstrators. Yisrael Beiteinu party leader and Knesset member Avigdor Lieberman arrived at the site. As he left, protesters shouted: “Lieberman, go back to communist Russia.” Lieberman was born in 1958 in Chisinau, the capital

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  EU chief says Ceuta migrants returned to Morocco, calls for stronger border controls

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Saturday that the vast majority of people who entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta illegally had returned to Morocco following joint efforts by Spanish and Moroccan law enforcement authorities, Anadolu reports. “The good news is that the vast majority of those who arrived illegally have returned to Morocco, due to the effective work of Spanish and Moroccan law enforcement. Not a single person reached mainland Spain or the rest of the EU,” von der Leyen said on the US social media company X. Von der Leyen said she held a conference call with European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner and European Commissioner for the Mediterranean and for Demography

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Richard Dalton: The Escalation Trap: How Long Can It Go On?

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with former CIA analyst Ray McGovern & Larry Johnson 

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  The long shadow of 1973: Why “energy memory” is reshaping global diplomacy

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Crises end. Institutions remember. On an autumn morning in October 1973, motorists across Europe and North America queued for hours outside petrol stations, uncertain whether fuel would still be available. Governments imposed rationing, reduced speed limits and introduced emergency measures that reshaped economic life. Although the immediate crisis faded, the institutions and strategic doctrines created in response continue to influence global energy policy more than fifty years later. The legacy of the 1973 oil embargo extends far beyond temporary shortages or price shocks. It fundamentally altered how governments understood vulnerability. Energy crises rarely disappear when markets stabilise; they survive in strategic reserves, infrastructure, alliances and national security doctrines. States do not simply recover from existential shocks—they institutionalise them. This article

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  Israeli airstrike destroys medical warehouses near hospital in central Gaza

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Israeli fighter jets struck medical warehouses near a hospital in the central Gaza Strip early Saturday, destroying at least half of the facilities and extensively damaging nearby tents sheltering displaced Palestinians, witnesses said. Witnesses told Anadolu that the Israeli army targeted the warehouses next to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah, completely destroying two of them and the critical medical supplies within and setting fire to dozens of tents erected nearby. The attack caused fear and panic among patients, displaced people, and residents in the vicinity of the hospital, they added. There were no immediate reports of casualties. According to the witnesses, the Israeli army issued an evacuation warning for the area only minutes before the strike. READ: US Embassy

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  US Embassy in Jordan urges citizens to consider leaving Middle East

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  The US Embassy in Jordan on Saturday urged Americans to consider leaving the Middle East if regional tensions escalate. “Americans currently in the Middle East should exercise caution and heightened vigilance and should be prepared for flight cancellations, periodic airspace closures, and potential travel disruptions,” the embassy said in a security alert on US social media company X. It also advised Americans outside the Middle East to “seriously reconsider travel to and through the region.” The embassy warned that “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas” and described the situation in the Middle East as “fluid.” “U.S. Embassy Amman advises all Americans to avoid travel to military bases in Jordan,” it added, urging citizens to

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  Palestinian Resistance Literature Under Occupation: 1948 – 1968

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  Assassinated in Lebanon by Israel in 1972, Palestinian intellectual Ghassan Kanafani is mostly renowned for his anti-colonial resistance, political writings and works of literary fiction. Palestinian Resistance Literature Under Occupation: 1948 – 1968 (Verso Books, 2026) brings another aspect of Kanafani’s work to an English-speaking public; a deep historical critique of Palestinian literature in the first two decades since Israel established its colonial presence on Palestinian land. Drawing upon several Palestinian writers, their poetry, short stories and plays, Kanafani provides an analysis of cultural resistance in Palestinian literature, and shows that it is just as vital as armed struggle against colonial rule. In the foreword, Rashid Khalidi  notes that despite Kanafani’s distance from occupied Palestinian lands in 1948 as he

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  Iran’s missile campaign exposed the limits of Western deterrence

  by Marwa A on August 1, 2026

  On 28th February, 2026, Iran launched Operation “True Promise-4,” a wave of ballistic missiles and drones into Israeli airspace. The strikes were in response to the US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory, which saturated the most heavily protected skies until even success became unaffordable for their adversaries. Iran went into the war with the most sophisticated ballistic missile arsenal in the Middle East, including the solid-fuel Fateh family, hypersonic-adjacent Fattah-1 and older Shahab-3 variants. It fired over one hundred heavy missiles in each wave; analysts called it “volumetric saturation”– overwhelming the target with more missiles than any interceptor network could handle. Israel’s Iron Dome, David’s Sling and long-range Arrow defence systems had created the most multi-layered air-defence system ever

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  RSF unit surrenders to Sudanese army with full military equipment

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  A unit of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) surrendered to the army on Friday, handing over its personnel and full military equipment, according to the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA). The agency said the force belonged to the RSF’s “Group 26” but did not specify the number of fighters involved or the type of equipment surrendered. It said the group was received by Al-Nour Ahmed Adam, known as Al-Nour al-Qubba, alongside senior officers from the Sudanese army and the General Intelligence Service. Al-Nour al-Qubba, one of the RSF’s founding members, defected to the army in April after previously serving among the paramilitary’s senior commanders and taking part in the battles for El Fasher, capital of North Darfur state, which

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  Spain says over 48,300 migrants have returned to Morocco from Ceuta

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  More than 48,300 of the approximately 50,000 migrants who entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta since early Thursday have returned to Morocco by Friday afternoon, Spain’s Interior Ministry said, according to EFE news agency. EFE reported that the figures, compiled as of 3.30 pm local time (1330GMT), followed an earlier ministry statement that returns from Ceuta to Morocco were taking place at a rate of about 150 people per minute. Despite the large number of departures, thousands of migrants remained in different neighborhoods of Ceuta with no clear destination, according to the report. READ: Ceuta crisis sparks online speculation over Israel’s role in pressuring Spain EFE said hundreds of migrants were heading toward the border Friday afternoon to return to Morocco,

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  UK welcomes Gaza disarmament deal, urges Israeli withdrawal

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Britain on Friday welcomed the agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza and called for the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, Anadolu reports. “The focus must now be on implementing the 20-Point Plan in full. This includes the withdrawal of the Israeli army from Gaza, and respect for the ceasefire by all parties,” Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband said in a statement. Miliband said conditions for people in Gaza remain “appalling.” “Israel must immediately end the unacceptable restrictions on aid so that more food, medicine and support can reach those who need it,” he said. Miliband said the international community must work toward a viable peace, with the State of Palestine and the State

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  Trump says US will hit Iran ‘very hard,’ wants to ‘win’ war

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  US President Donald Trump on Friday said that Washington will continue striking Iran “very hard,” adding that the US wants to “win” the war, Anadolu reports. Speaking to reporters during a Cabinet meeting at Camp David in Maryland, Trump said: “We just want to win. We’re doing very well. We’re trying to be as nice as you can be in a situation like that. But they’re being decimated.” “It’s very simple,” he said, adding: “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon.” “We’ll be hitting Iran very hard, and at some point, they’re going to say, ‘We just can’t take it anymore’,” Trump added. READ: Axios: Reported rift between Vance and Netanyahu deepened over Iran diplomacy and war The US president also

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  Lebanese president says Israeli blasts at Beaufort Castle threaten framework agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday condemned continued Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon, saying powerful explosions at the historic Beaufort Castle constituted a dangerous escalation that directly threatened the implementation of the US-mediated framework agreement between Lebanon and Israel, Anadolu reports. In a statement carried by Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), Aoun denounced what he described as ongoing Israeli violations, particularly explosions targeting infrastructure and archaeological sites listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites, saying they caused extensive damage across southern Lebanese villages and endangered civilians. He said the powerful explosions recorded Friday at Beaufort Castle generated seismic waves equivalent to a 3.8-magnitude earthquake, according to Lebanon’s National Center for Geophysics. Aoun described the blasts as “a highly dangerous escalation” and

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  UN chief urges Israel, Hamas to implement Trump-announced Gaza deal without delay

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday urged Israel and Hamas to fully implement the Gaza agreement announced by US President Donald Trump, Anadolu reports. “The only good news in recent days is the announcement by the US president of an agreement for Hamas to relinquish their weapons and for Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza,” Guterres said at a news conference in New York. His remarks came after Trump and the Board of Peace announced an agreement on implementing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, with the Board saying Hamas had approved a detailed roadmap. Israel has yet to officially endorse it. Responding to a question about reports that Israel remains skeptical of the arrangement and has indicated

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  US military rejects Iranian claim that Strait of Hormuz is closed

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Friday rejected Iran’s claims that Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, calling the assertion “false,” Anadolu reports. “Once again, the Iranian government claims it has closed the Strait of Hormuz. This is false,” CENTCOM said on the US social media platform X. The command said the Strait of Hormuz remains open to commercial vessel traffic and stressed that Iran does not control the vital maritime passage. “The Strait of Hormuz remains open for commercial vessel transit. Iran does not control it. Thousands of ships have sailed through the international waterway over the past four months.” READ: Axios: Reported rift between Vance and Netanyahu deepened over Iran diplomacy and war

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  Israeli defense minister says government approved 104 illegal settlements in the West Bank since 2022

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Friday that his government has approved the establishment of 104 illegal settlements and around 160 settlement farms in the occupied West Bank since it was formed in November 2022, Israel’s Channel 7 reported. Speaking during a meeting with leaders of the ruling Likud party in Jerusalem, Katz said the government had taken “a series of important decisions regarding settlement expansion in Judea and Samaria,” using Israel’s term for the West Bank. “We are not only strengthening security, but also strengthening settlement,” Katz said. “The government approved the establishment of 104 new settlements in Judea and Samaria, along with nearly 160 new farms,” he added. Katz described the move as “an unprecedented step that reflects

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  Ex-Israeli army chief says any Gaza deal failing to dismantle Hamas would be ‘complete failure’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Former Israeli army chief and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot said Friday that any agreement on Gaza that fails to dismantle Hamas’ military and governing capabilities would constitute a “complete failure” for the Israeli government, Anadolu reports. Eisenkot’s remarks came a day after US President Donald Trump and the Board of Peace announced an agreement on the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, which Israel has yet to officially endorse. In a post on the US social media platform X, Eisenkot questioned whether Israel had participated in negotiating the agreement. “There are major question marks as to whether Israel was a partner to this agreement or whether it was once again imposed on it without its participation,” he wrote. He criticized

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  Ceuta crisis sparks online speculation over Israel’s role in pressuring Spain

  by Marwa A on July 31, 2026

  The emergency in Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta has sparked an intense online debate over Israel’s possible role in efforts to punish Madrid over its outspoken support for Palestine. The speculation intensified after social media users resurfaced articles published earlier this year by pro-Israel analysts who argued that Israel and the US should aid Morocco over its claim to Ceuta and Melilla as a means of pressuring Spain. Israeli sources revealed that in March, Michael Rubin, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, called on Morocco to organise a new “Green March” into the Spanish enclaves. Writing for the US-based Middle East Forum, Rubin suggested that Moroccans approach Ceuta and Melilla with bulldozers, cross into the territories unarmed

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  Board of Peace sets $400M limit for Gaza administration’s financial commitments

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  The Board of Peace (BoP) said Friday that the future National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) will review and address legitimate financial commitments to suppliers, contractors and other parties totaling up to $400 million under its roadmap for implementing US President Donald Trump’s Comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza, Anadolu reports. According to the roadmap, the committee will assess legitimate commitments to suppliers, contractors and other parties amounting to no more than $400 million and take steps to address them. The document said the measures would be implemented gradually over a three-year period in line with priorities set by the NCAG. It added that any unresolved financial rights, liabilities or claims would be addressed later through a broader Palestinian

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  Lebanese president urges Palestinians to comply with state monopoly on arms

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun on Friday stressed the importance of Palestinians in Lebanon complying with a government decision to place weapons solely under state authority and cooperating with Lebanese security agencies, Anadolu reports. Aoun made the remarks during a meeting with a Palestinian delegation headed by Yasser Abbas, the special representative of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and a member of Fatah’s Central Committee, at the presidential palace in Beirut, according to a statement from Aoun’s media office. The president stressed “the importance of the Palestinian side’s commitment to the decision on the exclusivity of weapons, cooperation with Lebanese security agencies and implementation of the steps taken by the Cabinet in this regard,” the statement said. He also underlined “the importance

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  For the first time, money is not the issue

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  In modern history, rarely has there been a moment of global consensus quite like this: an absolute, unified rejection by football confederations around the world of FIFA’s plan to sell a commercial stake in its tournaments, including the World Cup, to private investors through a newly proposed $20 billion entity, “FIFA Forward Enterprise.” Yet, in a world dominated by market imperatives and relentless capital accumulation, the most remarkable aspect of this rebellion is that money is not the issue. This rare exception gives the moment a profound historical and philosophical resonance. Since the rise of globalized capitalism and the hyper-commodification of society, humanity has grown accustomed to watching values, principles, and national dignity erode before the lure of capital. Today,

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  ‘Constructive step toward peace’: EU welcomes Gaza disarmament agreement

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Friday welcomed the reported agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, saying the plan could be a “constructive step towards peace,” Anadolu reports. In a statement shared on the US social media platform X, Kallas said the implementation of the plan would depend on the “full commitment of all parties” involved. “A lot needs to fall in place for this to work. Success depends on the full commitment of all parties. Verifying Hamas’ compliance will be a significant challenge. Israel would need to eventually withdraw from Gaza,” she said. Kallas said the EU was ready to support the next stages of the agreement, including the deployment of the National

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  Saudi says Iraq strike followed exhausted diplomacy, months of restraint: Report

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  A Saudi official source said Friday that the kingdom’s strike in Iraq came after “all diplomatic and political measures had been exhausted” and after Riyadh had exercised “maximum restraint” over recent months, Saudi state TV reported, Anadolu reports. “The kingdom is keen on its relationship with Iraq, government and people,” the source told Al-Ekhbariya TV, adding that the airstrike “was not directed against the Iraqi government or the Iraqi people.” “The Saudi response came after all diplomatic and political measures were exhausted and after the highest levels of restraint were exercised over the past months,” the source said. “The operation targeted the capabilities of militias that threatened the kingdom’s security and targeted its vital civilian and economic facilities,” the source added.

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  Hamas says Israel must halt attacks to advance Gaza ceasefire’s 2nd phase

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Palestinian group Hamas said Friday that Israel’s commitment to stop the killings and end its attacks is “the essential gateway” to advancing implementation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement and setting a timeline for measures agreed under its second phase, Anadolu reports. In a statement on Telegram, the group said it and other Palestinian factions had engaged “responsibly and positively” with negotiations and mediators’ proposals to complete implementation of the second phase of the ceasefire agreement, describing the process as the result of “Palestinian national consensus.” “The occupation’s commitment to stopping the killing and ending its attacks is the essential gateway and the first step toward moving forward with implementation and establishing the framework and timetable for what has been agreed,” Hamas

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  Belgium welcomes reported Gaza disarmament agreement, urges swift implementation

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot on Friday welcomed the reported agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, calling it a potential step toward ending the conflict and advancing lasting peace, Anadolu reports. “I welcome the reported agreement on the disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. If implemented in full and by all parties, it could mark an important step towards ending the conflict and towards lasting peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians alike,” Prevot said on US social media platform X. He praised the mediation efforts led by US President Donald Trump, Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye, as well as the facilitation efforts of former UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace

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  Hamas says it agrees to written Gaza ceasefire deal for 2nd phase tied to Israeli compliance

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  The Palestinian group Hamas has agreed to a written agreement for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire based on a “comprehensive package” of reciprocal and simultaneous commitments, conditional on Israel’s full implementation of the first phase, senior Hamas official Ghazi Hamad told Anadolu on Friday. Hamad, a member of Hamas’ political bureau and its negotiating delegation, said the group had approved a “clear, written agreement” covering Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the deployment of international forces, the assumption of duties by the National Committee for Administration of Gaza, and weapons arrangements. He said implementation of the second phase depends on Israel first fulfilling all of its obligations under the first phase, adding that the agreement should be

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  Israeli occupiers raid areas near Nablus, army arrests 14 Palestinians in raids across West Bank

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Israeli occupiers, under army protection, raided areas west of the occupied West Bank city of Nablus and the nearby town of Tell on Friday morning, while the army arrested 14 Palestinians and injured 11 others during multiple raids in multiple cities. An Anadolu Agency correspondent said dozens of occupiers entered the Ain al-Mazrab area of Tell, as well as the al-Ameriya area and its surroundings west of Nablus, under the protection of Israeli forces. The occupiers left less than 30 minutes after arriving. The raid came after occupier groups called for a mass march to Tell on Friday. It also came a day after the Israeli army turned four homes in the town into military outposts. The latest raid follows

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  Malaysia’s Israel ban policy is not Washington’s to dictate

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim recently made it clear that any Israeli nationals found in Malaysia would be deported immediately. This comes after reports emerged that Israelis using second passports had entered the country to participate in activities linked to the Network School in Forest City, Johor. Malaysian authorities are now investigating whether dual citizenship was used to bypass long-standing restrictions on Israeli passport holders. Instead of respecting Malaysia’s sovereign right to investigate potential breaches of its immigration laws, eight US Democratic lawmakers—Greg Landsman, Josh Gottheimer, Jimmy Panetta, Dan Goldman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Jared Moskowitz, Brad Sherman and Jake Auchincloss reacted by urging Secretary of State Marco Rubio to review security and economic ties with Malaysia.  They even proposed suspending Malaysia’s

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  Nearly 49,000 migrants from Morocco recently entered Spanish enclave Ceuta, estimates show

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Around 49,000 irregular migrants from Morocco entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta in recent days, initial estimates released Friday indicated, according to EFE news agency, Anadolu reports. According to the news agency, the figure is a provisional estimate for the moment as government sources said that there are no official figures yet. Meanwhile, public broadcaster RTVE reported that the government confirmed the estimated figures. Spanish daily El Pais said that the estimate represents an almost 50% increase in the enclave’s population, which officially stands at more than 80,000. READ: Algeria arrests 18 Moroccan nationals over alleged international migrant smuggling network Meanwhile, thousands of migrants who entered Ceuta irregularly in recent hours reportedly began returning to Morocco. El Pais noted that the

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  Gaza administration committee says it is ready to govern enclave after ceasefire progress

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  The National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) welcomed progress announced on the roadmap for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire on Friday, saying it is fully prepared to assume responsibility for administering the enclave, Anadolu reports. In a statement posted on X, the committee described the development as “an important milestone” for Gaza’s residents after years of conflict, destruction and uncertainty, and said the priority is to translate the progress into practical measures that improve daily life. The NCAG said it has completed “extensive institutional and operational preparations” in recent months to take over Gaza’s administration, restore essential public services, strengthen the rule of law, facilitate humanitarian aid delivery, and lead recovery and reconstruction. It said rebuilding

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  Islamic Jihad says reported deal between Palestinian factions, Israel ‘inaccurate’

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said Friday that the announced agreement between Palestinian factions and Israel was “inaccurate,” adding that it has reservations over the deal in its current form, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the movement’s spokesperson said: “What has been announced regarding an agreement between the Palestinian factions and the enemy (Israel) is inaccurate, and we have reservations about it in its currently circulated form.” The Palestinian group’s statement came after US President Donald Trump announced that an agreement had been reached for the complete disarmament of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza, with Israeli forces set to withdraw in phases as the process moves forward. READ: Israel rejects mediators’ Gaza proposal, insists on Hamas disarmament: Yedioth Ahronoth

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  Data shows Indonesia is still importing from Israel, in the middle of a genocide, until now

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Indonesia’s own Ministry of Trade has published data showing the country is still importing goods from Israel today, in 2026, almost three years into a genocide the world has watched unfold in Gaza. This is happening in the country with the largest Muslim population on earth, a country whose own citizens have spent the last three years marching, boycotting, and demanding their government cut ties with Israel. Government trade data, from Indonesia’s own Ministry of Trade, shows imports from Israel never really stopped. They went up. From about 22 million US dollars in 2023 to over 54 million dollars in 2024 — the same year Gaza’s hospitals were being flattened and its children pulled out of rubble. In 2025 imports

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  Britain ‘losing the plot’ over pro-Palestine crackdown

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Britain is “losing the plot” and is on course to becoming a “dictatorship” over its treatment of pro-Palestine protesters, the country has been warned, as the Labour government comes under mounting criticism over authoritarian policies used to crack down on critics of the apartheid state of Israel. Police arrested veteran environmental campaigner Sir Jonathon Porritt outside Westminster Magistrates’ Court in central London yesterday after he publicly declared his support for Palestine Action, which the British government proscribed as a terrorist organisation in July 2025. The Metropolitan Police said officers arrested 117 people during the demonstration, most of them for allegedly expressing support for a proscribed organisation. Many of those detained were elderly, including an 87-year-old woman who uses a wheelchair. 

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  Rights group releases major report on conditions in Egyptian prisons

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  The Association of Families of Egyptian Detainees (FIDA) has published a new report on the humanitarian conditions in Egyptian prisons. The report highlights conditions of extreme overcrowding used as an instrument of psychological and health punishment by the authorities. The report “inquires whether this phenomenon has been transformed – within a specific political and social context – from a transient administrative shortcoming into a systematic pattern amounting to cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment within the meaning established under international human rights law.” The total number of detainees in Egypt is estimated at 120,000 persons according to a 2022 estimate drawn from the report of the US Department of State. Of this number, an approximate 80,000 are convicted persons while 40,000

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  Sudan resumes voluntary return convoys from Egypt as 1,200 citizens travel home

  by Mehdi Editor on July 31, 2026

  Sudan’s Hope Committee for Voluntary Return resumed organized voluntary return convoys from Egypt on Thursday, with approximately 1,200 Sudanese citizens traveling home aboard 24 buses, following new measures introduced by Sudanese authorities to facilitate their return. According to the state-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA), the convoy was organized under the auspices of the General Secretariat of the Zakat Chamber as part of an ongoing voluntary repatriation program. The resumption follows a decision by Babiker Samra Mustafa, Director General of the Sudanese Police Forces, to waive fees for emergency travel documents and allow the use of expired passports to facilitate the return of Sudanese nationals. The Hope Committee for Voluntary Return, a humanitarian initiative that coordinates with Sudanese government institutions, said