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

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  Israel canceled coordination for patient evacuations, says Palestinian Red Crescent

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  The Israeli officials canceled the coordination for evacuating the third batch of patients and injured people from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah land crossing, leading to the postponement of their departure, which had been scheduled for Wednesday, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society said on Wednesday. Raed Al-Nems, Red Crescent Society’s spokesman in Gaza, told Anadolu in a statement that the World Health Organization informed them of the cancellation without providing reasons. Al-Nems said the Palestinian Red Crescent’s teams were fully prepared to evacuate patients from Al-Amal Hospital, affiliated with the society in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, but the last-minute cancellation of coordination prevented the operation from being carried out. The society is awaiting the resumption of

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  UAE presidential adviser: UAE’s economic success behind rising online campaigns against it

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  Anwar Gargash, adviser to the President of the United Arab Emirates, has commented on criticism directed at his country, saying much of the anti-UAE rhetoric is little more than online noise driven by fake social media accounts. He made the remarks during a session titled “The Geopolitical Reset” on the opening day of the World Government Summit 2026 in Dubai this week. Gargash outlined the UAE’s position on regional issues and global changes, and called for a clear distinction between “noise and reality” in “anti-UAE rhetoric”. “It’s important to separate the noise from reality,” Gargash said. Gargash said: “A large part of this discourse is linked to the UAE’s economic success and its policies of openness and diversity. If we

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  The death of Saif al-Islam was not the surprise, his survival was

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  There is little reason for observers to be shocked by the fate that finally caught up with him, killed in an operation that remains murky even now. Herodotus’s old saying, ‘Out of Libya, always something new’, was never a promise of wonder. Rather, it was a warning about a land where chaos renews itself endlessly. The ‘new’ emerging from Libya today is merely a repetition of the same tragedy. His death is not the surprise; the real surprise is that he survived at all after the killing of his father, Muammar Gaddafi, his brother Mutassim, and the flight of the rest of the family. Since 2011, Libya has witnessed the predictable outcome of a society that was deliberately dismantled and

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  Knesset approves transfer of responsibility for archaeological sites in West Bank to Israel

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  The Israeli Knesset’s Education, Culture and Sports Committee approved on Monday a draft amendment to the Israeli Antiquities Authority Law for its first reading. The proposed amendment aims to transfer direct responsibility to Israel for the care of antiquities, heritage, and archaeological sites in the West Bank. Under the proposal, a new body called the “West Bank Heritage Authority” would be established under the Israeli Ministry of Heritage. It would be responsible for protecting, restoring, developing, surveying, and rescuing archaeological sites, with an estimated annual budget of no less than 30 million shekels (about $9.7 million). The Israeli Ministry of Justice requested that the draft law be returned to the ministerial committee due to its international sensitivity. The discussions also

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  ‘No one should leave Gaza’: Returnees’ message from Rafah crossing sparks social media debate

  by MI on February 4, 2026

  A video clip of one of the 12 people who recently returned to the Gaza Strip has triggered wide interaction on social media, after a woman described her harsh journey through the Rafah crossing and the humiliating treatment and arbitrary procedures she faced at the hands of the Israeli occupation authorities. In an emotional message, the woman urged Gaza’s residents not to emigrate. She described the return journey through Israeli checkpoints as being “like death”, saying that staying in Gaza — despite the destruction — is better than forced displacement. She said: “No one should leave Gaza.” Commenting on the scene, writer Turki Al-Shalhoub said: “The people of Gaza’s attachment to their land is extraordinary.” He noted that after the

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  Israel releases 9 Palestinians from Gaza after months of unlawful detention

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Israel released nine more Palestinians, including a woman, from the Gaza Strip after months of unlawful detention on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The freed captives were transported by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the central city of Deir al-Balah for medical examinations. Speaking to reporters, ICRC spokesperson in Gaza Emani Nauk said the organization has been unable to access Palestinians held in Israeli prisons since October 2023, and called for information on the fate and whereabouts of all captives, as well as renewed access to detention facilities. Palestinians previously released from Israeli detention have shown signs of abuse, severe malnutrition and injuries consistent with torture, according to medical staff and human rights

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  Indonesia may exit Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ if Palestine independence unmet: Report

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Indonesia may exit US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” if Palestine’s independence goals are not advanced, according to the state-run news agency Antara. President Prabowo Subianto, while responding to concerns on the issue during a meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday, stated: “’If we join the BoP, we are not obliged to go along when they do not align with our views. Second, if no changes can be made, he (President Prabowo) is prepared to withdraw from the BoP.’ That is how I understood his remarks,” Indonesian Ulema Council Vice Chairman Cholil Nafis told reporters, quoting the president. Prabowo said that “if BoP policy later involves steps that are not in line with our position, we

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  Turkiye, Saudi Arabia to cooperate on Syria’s reconstruction: President Erdogan

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Turkiye will continue to support Syria’s stability and will work in cooperation with Saudi Arabia for Syrian reconstruction, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said during a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The leaders discussed regional and global issues, bilateral relations, energy, and defense during their meeting, according to a statement issued by Turkiye’s Communications Directorate. Ankara continues to work for Gaza’s reconstruction, Erdogan said, urging stepped-up efforts to end the humanitarian crisis. The two leaders also discussed in detail the latest situation in Yemen and developments in East Africa. Erdogan expressed determination to take relations between Turkiye and Saudi Arabia to a “higher level” via steps to be taken in many

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  US shoots down Iranian drone approaching American aircraft carrier in Arabian Sea

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  A US fighter jet shot down an Iranian drone in the Arabian Sea on Tuesday after it approached an American aircraft carrier, an official said, Anadolu reports. “USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) was transiting the Arabian Sea approximately 500 miles from Iran’s southern coast when an Iranian Shahed-139 drone unnecessarily maneuvered toward the ship. “The Iranian drone continued to fly toward the ship despite de-escalatory measures taken by US forces operating in international waters,” US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesman Capt. Tim Hawkins said. Hawkins said forces are ensuring the safety of US personnel, ships and aircraft in the Middle East. “Continued Iranian harassment and threats in international waters and airspace will not be tolerated. Iran’s unnecessary aggression near US forces,

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  Gaza is not piece of land waiting to be grabbed, says Palestinian UN envoy

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Palestinian UN envoy Riyad Mansour said Tuesday that the Gaza Strip is an inseparable part of the occupied Palestinian territory and belongs to the Palestinian people, Anadolu reports. “Gaza is not a piece of land that is hanging in the air for anyone to grab. It belongs to its people. It belongs to the Palestinian people,” Mansour said at the opening session of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People. Mansour welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and noted the cooperation of all parties involved, including the US, but emphasized that it must be lasting. Saying that the ceasefire must “not be fragile,” he said, “Israel should not continue to go and kill our people

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  ‘Unlawful’ Israeli E1 settlement plan would sever northern, southern West Bank, warns UN chief

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that Israel’s “unlawful” plans to expand settlements in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank would sever its northern and southern parts and deal a serious blow to the two-state solution, Anadolu reports. “In the occupied West Bank, relentless illegal settlement expansion, demolitions, displacement, and evictions are accelerating,” Guterres said at the opening session of the UN Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People (CEIRPP). Over 37,000 Palestinians were displaced in the West Bank in 2025 alone, a year that also saw record levels of Israeli settler violence, Guterres said, adding: “The recently published tender by Israel for 3,401 housing units in the E1 area – alongside

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  Tunisia appeals court raises prison sentence of Ennahda leader Ghannouchi to 20 years

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  An appeals court in Tunisia has increased the prison sentence of Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the country’s Ennahda Movement and former parliament speaker, to 20 years on charges of “conspiring against state security,” local media said Tuesday. The state news agency TAP, citing a judicial source, said the court also handed down the same sentence to Kamal Al-Badawi, a former security official. A court of first instance had earlier sentenced both Ghannouchi and Badawi to 14 years in prison. The appeals court also sentenced Rayan Al-Hamzawi, mayor of Zahra in Ben Arous governorate in northeastern Tunisia, to three years in prison, down from 12 years, and sentenced both Mahrez Al-Zouari, a former intelligence chief, and Abdelkarim Al-Abidi, a former head

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  The Epstein Files: Blackmail, power, and geopolitical shadows

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  The infamous Epstein files continue to reverberate across the globe. They exposed a network that was never simply about one man’s depravity. Instead, they reveal a sprawling web of influence, compromise, and blackmail that ensnared royals, billionaires, diplomats, tech moguls, and Arab businesspeople. These ties transcend personal scandal, bordering on a geopolitical crisis; they raise the haunting question of whether Epstein’s operation served as a lever for Israeli strategic interests.  A system of untouchables When Jeffrey Epstein was first prosecuted, the Department of Justice faced sharp criticism for its leniency. Senator Ben Sasse condemned the infamous 2008 plea deal as “a disgusting failure of the system.” DOJ officials later admitted that Epstein’s case was about a system of enablers who

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  US envoy Witkoff arrives in Israel for talks on Iran

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  US envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel on Tuesday to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials, Israeli Channel 12 reported. Netanyahu’s office told The Times of Israel news portal that the premier will meet Witkoff at 4.30 pm local time (1430 GMT). The US envoy’s talks in Israel are expected to focus on Iran and the implementation of the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan. Iran and the US are set to resume talks on Tehran’s nuclear program in Istanbul on Friday. READ: Israel predicts failure of US-Iran talks, fears ballistic missiles will be left off agenda

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  Syria, UN sign deal to rehabilitate 5 hospitals across various provinces

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Syria’s Health Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Development Program on Tuesday to rehabilitate five hospitals across the country, Anadolu reports. The agreement, funded by the German government, aims to restore infrastructure and operational capacity at several public hospitals and was signed at the Health Ministry’s headquarters in Damascus, the SANA news agency reported. The memorandum covers the rehabilitation, renovation and equipping of hospitals in Jisr al-Shughour in Idlib province, Halfaya in Hama, Taldu in Homs, the National Hospital in al-Bukamal in the Deir el-Zour countryside, and the National Hospital in Daraa, SANA said. The agreement comes as Syria’s health care system continues to struggle after years of deterioration caused by the devastating war launched by the

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  From Jabotinsky to Epstein: Zionism and the Cult of Cruelty | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Israel now admits Gaza’s death toll—but only after years of denial. Mouin Rabbani joins to explore what this shift means, and how media and political elites helped enable genocide. We look at US complicity, the BBC’s Gaza coverage collapse, and the ideology of Jewish supremacy inside Israel’s government. Plus: the Epstein files, vice as political currency, and Arab states scrambling to prevent war with Iran.   WATCH: ‘Trojan Horses’ of a New Imperial Order | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani 

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  Gaza civil defense halts recovery of Palestinian bodies due to fuel shortage

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Gaza’s Civil Defense said Tuesday it has stopped recovering the bodies of Palestinians killed during Israel’s two-year war due to fuel shortages caused by a choking Israeli blockade that has crippled its operations, Anadolu reports. In a statement, the agency said its vehicles have halted after fuel supplies fell below the minimum needed for humanitarian work, forcing crews to suspend body recovery operations. The agency also warned that it cannot respond to emergency distress calls during ongoing weather systems “as teams are unable to reach affected areas due to the fuel shortage.” The announcement came as Israel has failed to comply with the humanitarian protocol of the ceasefire agreement in effect since Oct. 10, which includes provisions for the entry of

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  Former Israeli prime minister proposed racially selective conversions to preserve Jewish majority

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  A 2013 recording of a private meeting hosted by disgraced sex offender linked to Mossad, Jeffrey Epstein, captures former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak proposing a policy of mass conversion to Judaism aimed at preserving a Jewish majority in Israel. Barak suggests that unlike during the early years of the state, Israeli authorities could now “be selective” and “control the quality” of who is accepted as Jewish. The three-and-a-half-hour conversation, which also included former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, appears in the latest tranche of Epstein-related materials. In the exchange, Summers raises concerns about demographic trends, noting high birth rates among Palestinians and ultra-Orthodox Jews, and lower birth rates among secular Jewish Israelis. He refers to the situation as “terrible

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  Israel predicts failure of US-Iran talks, fears ballistic missiles will be left off agenda

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Israeli military analysts expect the failure of the upcoming US-Iran talks scheduled to begin Friday in Istanbul, warning that the negotiations are unlikely to address Iran’s ballistic missile program, which Tel Aviv views as a major threat, Anadolu reports. Israeli officials are expected to discuss the planned talks between Washington and Tehran with US envoy Steve Witkoff, who is due to arrive in Israel later Tuesday. Witkoff is expected to lead the US delegation in the Istanbul talks, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will head the Iranian side. The United States and Israel consider Iran their chief regional adversary and accuse it of seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, including electricity generation.

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  Newly surfaced Epstein email ties him to Israel–UAE strategy targeting Qatar

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Newly uncovered emails dated July 2017 reveal disgraced sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, long accused of acting on behalf of Israeli intelligence, lobbying for political and financial pressure to be applied against Qatar at the height of the Gulf diplomatic crisis.  The email exchange, dated 6th July 2017, sees Epstein accusing Qatar of “terrorism financing,” describing its leadership as “dangerous,” and demanding that it be made to “come out against terrorism and not just say it.” He proposes creating a billion-dollar “victim fund” for terrorism survivors to be administered by the US, UK and UN, while calling on Qatar to either contribute financially or recognise Israel—framing both as tests of its sincerity in opposing terrorism.  Epstein outlines a strategy of reputational

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  Israeli army uproots 200 grapevines in occupied West Bank, raids towns

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  The Israeli army uprooted about 200 long-standing grapevines Monday in the Bethlehem governorate and raided several towns and villages across the occupied West Bank, Anadolu reports. Israeli forces used bulldozers to level agricultural land in the town of al-Khader, south of Bethlehem, uprooting roughly 200 mature grapevines, the official Palestinian news agency Wafa reported. Deputy Mayor Husni Issa said the land-clearing took place in the Um Rukba area south of the town, Wafa added. In separate incidents, Israeli forces raided a Palestinian home in the town of Hizma, northeast of occupied East Jerusalem, and converted it into a military post, the agency said. Troops deployed throughout the town, stormed the house and forced the family to evacuate before using it as

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  Supporting Israel’s security narrative puts aid workers at risk

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Doctors Without Borders has decided it will not share details of its staff with the Israeli authorities. In a statement published last Friday, the humanitarian organisation announced that Israel gave no assurances of security. As the statement partly reads, “it became evident in recent days that we were unable to build engagement with the Israeli authorities on the concrete assurances required.” The realisation comes as no surprise. It is impossible to expect assurances from a colonial enterprise that has just navigated a genocide with full approval from the international community.  What is of particular note, however, is MSF’s concluding statement. “MSF remains open to ongoing dialogue with the Israeli authorities to maintain our critical operations in Gaza and the West

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  Calls grow louder to ban Israeli president’s entry into Australia as parliament debates motion

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Calls are growing to bar Israeli President Isaac Herzog from entering Australia as lawmakers debate a motion urging Canberra to withdraw an invitation extended to him, Anadolu reports. Australia’s Greens Party Senator David Shoebridge said his party moved the motion in the Senate, calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to revoke the invitation to Herzog, who is expected to visit the country next week. Herzog has “literally signed bombs used in the genocide in Gaza. Labor, the Liberals and One Nation joined together to vote it down,” said Shoebridge, who represents New South Wales (NSW) in the upper house of the Australian parliament. “That tells you everything,” Shoebridge added. Herzog is expected to land in Sydney on Feb. 8 for a

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  Australia sanctions individuals, entities linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Australia announced Tuesday additional sanctions targeting senior Iranian officials and financial networks, Anadolu reports. Foreign Minister Penny Wong said the new measures target 20 individuals and three entities, including senior officials and organizations linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). “This announcement builds on the Albanese Government’s listing of the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism and our sanctions on more than 200 Iranian individuals and entities,” she said in a statement. The Australian government has so far sanctioned more than 200 Iranian individuals and entities, including over 100 linked to the IRGC. On Friday, the US Treasury Department also announced a new round of sanctions targeting senior Iranian officials and financial networks. Earlier, the EU designated the IRGC

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  Israeli prime minister attacks Gaza technocratic committee’s use of Palestinian Authority logo

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday attacked the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) over its decision to update its logo to match the Palestinian Authority (PA) emblem, Anadolu reports. “The logo of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) which was presented to Israel was entirely different from the one published this evening,” Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, according to Israeli media on Monday. “Israel will not accept the use of a Palestinian Authority symbol; the Palestinian Authority will have no part in the administration of Gaza,” it added. Netanyahu seeks to completely separate the two bodies and has vehemently objected to any role for the PA in Gaza, although he acknowledged last week

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  Israel’s is surreptitiously gaining control over East Jerusalem

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Israel considers Jerusalem its “complete and undivided” capital, a position solidified by the 1980 Jerusalem Law (WIPO Lex), which serves as the seat for its Knesset (parliament), Supreme Court, and government ministries. While Israel holds full control over the city, particularly after capturing East Jerusalem in 1967, this status is deeply contested internationally.  Following the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Israel annexed East Jerusalem and extended its legal jurisdiction there. West Jerusalem has served as the capital since 1949, with major state institutions located there. Although the U.S. and a few other countries have recognized Jerusalem as the capital and moved their embassies there, most of the international community does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem. Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the

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  Italian report suggests 27 Tunisian boats sank, around 1,000 dead in storm Harry

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  The Italian newspaper La Repubblica reported on Monday that at least 27 out of 29 boats that set off from the coast of Tunisia sank during storm Harry which struck the Mediterranean Sea last January, leaving hundreds of migrants dead.    Earlier, the Italian coastguard estimated that about 380 people were lost on eight boats that never reached Italy. Non-governmental organisations, however, say the death toll could be at least 1,000. According to the report on the newspaper’s website, refugees in Libya said that at least 29 iron boats, called “floating coffins,” left Tunisia, but only two reached Lampedusa or returned to land. Storm Harry hit the region between 19 and 21 January, bringing waves as high as 16 metres. The Italian

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  UAE-Saudi Arabia contestation in Yemen conflict

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  The Yemeni conflict remains unresolved. The feud between the Yemeni government-backed Hadramawt Tribal Alliance and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) continues to escalate. The power struggle between the two is escalating in Hadramawt province, East Yemen. The Southern Transitional Council is demanding the separation of South Yemen from North Yemen. Moreover, the Hadramawt Tribal Alliance, established in 2013, is seeking autonomy for its province to safeguard its sovereignty and resources, and is rejecting external forces. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate, and the Southern Transitional Council is deploying military support led by General Saleh Ali bin Sheikh Abu Bakr, also known as Abu Ali al-Hadrami. This has transformed the conflict, which initially revolved around territorial and oil issues, into a

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  Irani official says Israel would be involved in any attack if US acts

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Ali Shamkhani, the political adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, said Iran is ready to negotiate only on its nuclear file, provided that talks are held without threats or what he described as unlogical conditions.  In an interview with Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen TV, Shamkhani said Iran could reduce its uranium enrichment level from 60 per cent to 20 per cent, but only if it receives what he called an “appropriate price and return”. On the military front, he warned that any attack on Iran, even a limited one, would turn into a major crisis beyond the expectations of those behind it. He said Iran’s response to Israel would be inevitable and proportionate to its actions. Shamkhani added that if the

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  Qatar urges unhindered and permanent reopening of Rafah crossing

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Qatar has stressed the need to reopen the Rafah land crossing in the south of the Gaza Strip “without obstacles and on a lasting basis”, after Israel kept it closed for two years. In a statement issued on Monday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said reopening the Rafah crossing for the movement of Palestinians was “a step in the right direction towards addressing the tragic conditions faced by civilians, especially in humanitarian and health areas”. The ministry also underlined the need for all parties to fully implement the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and to open all crossings to ensure the steady and unhindered flow of humanitarian aid into the territory. It reaffirmed “the State of Qatar’s firm

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  Neglect of Gaza war soldiers shake trust in Israeli army

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Israeli soldiers who took part in the fighting in the Gaza Strip are facing serious physical and psychological health problems. This comes at a time when the Israeli army appears hesitant or unable to provide proper support for injured soldiers. This has raised concern among families and has led some parents to say they are unwilling to send their children for military service. Aviv Ivergan, 21, a former soldier in the Nahal Brigade, was injured during training in November 2024 and later left combat service, according to his mother, Tadla, speaking to the Yedioth Ahronoth website. She said: “He was injured in the head, and it is believed he was injured in Gaza. If they continue like this, I will not send

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  Israel’s Shin Bet excludes West Bank settler attacks from terrorism classification

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  In a serious move that could give official cover to Israeli settler crimes, the Shin Bet security agency has decided to change how it defines attacks carried out by settlers in the West Bank, Israel’s public broadcaster Kan has revealed. Under the new decision, attacks that do not show a “clear intent to kill” will no longer be classified as terrorist crimes. Instead, they will be redefined as “serious incidents”. According to the new definition, the burning of buildings or vehicles will be treated as a “serious incident”. While the Shin Bet still investigates such incidents, the change affects priorities, resources and the number of staff assigned to investigations within the agency. This month, settlers carried out more than ten arson attacks.

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  France issues arrest warrants against 2 Israeli women over genocide complicity in Gaza

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  French authorities have issued two arrest warrants against two Israeli women over alleged “complicity in genocide” in the Gaza Strip. The French newspaper Le Monde reported on Monday that the two right-wing Israeli women, Nili Kupfer-Naouri and Rachel Tioutou, who also hold French citizenship, are accused of obstructing the entry of humanitarian aid into the war-hit Gaza Strip. According to the report, Kupfer-Naouri, a French-Israeli lawyer and head of the organisation Israel Is Forever, and Tioutou, a spokesperson for the group Tsav 9, are suspected of blocking aid deliveries to Gaza. Kupfer-Naouri confirmed the case and said: “The danger is that I will never be able to go to France, because I do not intend to enter French prisons.” She added that other members of

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  Iran denies plans to transfer enriched uranium abroad

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  A senior Iranian official denied Monday any plans to transfer Iran’s enriched uranium to any other country, Anadolu agency reported. “Iranian officials have no intention of transferring enriched nuclear material abroad,” Ali Bagheri, the deputy for foreign policy at the Secretariat of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said in comments carried by the state news agency IRNA. “Negotiations are not basically focused on such an issue,” he added. The Kremlin repeated its offer on Monday to process or store Iran’s enriched uranium, in a bid to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington. “This topic has been on the agenda for a long time,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. READ: US Envoy Witkoff, Iranian foreign minister expected to meet in Istanbul for nuclear talks: Report “Russia

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  Erdogan warns SDF against undermining Syria agreements reached with Damascus

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) against undermining agreements reached with the Syrian government last January, saying attempts to sabotage the understandings would not be tolerated. Erdogan made the remarks on Monday in a speech after chairing a Turkish cabinet meeting at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. Referring to the understandings between Damascus and the SDF — which Turkey describes as the armed wing of the YPG — Erdogan said: “The recent agreements have opened a new chapter for the Syrian people, and anyone who tries to undermine them will be buried under their rubble.” He added that Turkey would “stand firmly against all those who profit from bloodshed, fuel conflicts, exploit tensions, and disregard human

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  UAE denies claims it will manage Gaza, says governance is for Palestinians

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  The United Arab Emirates has denied claims that it intends to assume civil administration of the Gaza Strip, stressing that governance of the territory is the responsibility of the Palestinian people. Reem bint Ibrahim Al Hashemi, the UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, said on Monday that reports suggesting Abu Dhabi would take over Gaza’s civilian administration were false. “The UAE categorically denies the baseless claims regarding its assumption of civil administration of the Gaza Strip,” Al Hashemi said in a statement. She added that “the governance and administration of Gaza is the responsibility of the Palestinian people”, and reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to expanding humanitarian assistance for Palestinians in the Strip. READ: Hamas says arrangements complete to hand over Gaza administration

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  Hamas says arrangements complete to hand over Gaza administration to national committee

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  Hamas said on Monday that it has completed arrangements to transfer governing authority in Gaza to the National Committee for the Administration of the Palestinian Strip. Hamas spokesperson Hazem Qassem said all procedures had been finalised by governmental and administrative bodies in Gaza to hand over “all powers and resources” to an independent national committee tasked with managing the Strip. “As soon as the committee enters the Gaza Strip, the handover process will begin in a transparent and comprehensive manner across all sectors,” Qassem said. Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2007, after the collapse of a national unity government and escalating disputes with the Fatah movement led by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, following Hamas’s victory in the January 2006

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  Gaza Holds a Mirror to the World

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  In most parts of the world, a patient’s journey to treatment begins at the hospital door. In Gaza, it begins at the door of politics, passes through layers of security and often never reaches a doctor at all. The occupation has reduced the Gazan to a dossier, rather than a human life. What is being presented today as the “opening” of the Rafah crossing cannot in all seriousness be described as a breakthrough for humanitarian effort. Rather, it’s a re-engineering of the siege, repackaged in calmer language and administered with tighter control. Movement is not governed by need or rights, but by lists, quotas and prior security approvals, turning the most basic human necessities into temporary exemptions. Under the current

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  UNIFIL warns after Israeli army drops chemical substance in southern Lebanon

  by MI on February 3, 2026

  The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has warned of the repercussions of an Israeli aerial operation in southern Lebanon involving the dropping of a chemical substance, saying the incident disrupted peacekeeping operations and raised health and environmental concerns. In a statement issued on Monday, UNIFIL said the Israeli army informed the force on Sunday morning that it intended to carry out an aerial activity to drop a chemical substance over areas near the Blue Line, the demarcation line marking Israel’s withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000. According to UNIFIL, Israeli forces instructed peacekeepers to move away from the area and remain indoors, prompting the cancellation of more than 10 UNIFIL field activities. The UN force said its personnel were unable

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  Israeli, US navies conduct joint military drill in Red Sea amid tension with Iran

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  The Israeli and US navies conducted a joint military exercise in the Red Sea, the military said on Monday, as tensions continued to grow between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program, Anadolu reports. An Israeli military statement said Sunday’s drill between destroyer USS Delbert D. Black and Israeli Navy vessels was “part of the ongoing cooperation between the Israeli Navy and the US 5th fleet in the Red Sea arena.” The army said the US destroyer docked at the Eilat port “as part of a pre-planned, routine visit and within the framework of the strategic and close cooperation between the two navies and respective militaries.” The US Central Command (CENTCOM) called the drill “a routine maritime exercise.” “The combined

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  US Envoy Witkoff, Iranian foreign minister expected to meet in Istanbul for nuclear talks: Report

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are expected to hold talks in Istanbul on Friday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts over Iran’s nuclear program, according to a report by Axios on Monday. Citing sources familiar with the discussions, the report noted that preparations are underway for the meeting, while another cautioned that plans remain fluid and have not yet been finalized. The planned talks are taking place after US President Donald Trump’s statement last week in a social media post that a massive “armada” was heading toward Iran, while urging Tehran to enter negotiations immediately. He later said that Iran was “seriously talking” with the US. The US president has threatened military action

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  Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ to give Hamas ‘2-month ultimatum’ to disarm, Israeli finance minister says

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Monday that Hamas will be given a “two-month ultimatum” by US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” to disarm, Anadolu reports. “The Board of Peace will issue a two-month ultimatum to Hamas to disarm,” Smotrich said in comments carried by the local newspaper Makor Rishon. He said that Israel will not end its war on the Gaza Strip “before Hamas is destroyed.” “There will be no Hamas in Gaza, neither militarily, nor civilianly, nor in government. We made a commitment, and that is the main objective of the war.” There was no immediate comment from Trump’s “Board of Peace” on Smotrich’s statements. The extremist minister said the Israeli army controls more than half

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  Jordan says it will not be ‘battleground’ in any regional conflict amid US-Iran tension

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  Jordan will not be a “battleground” in any regional conflict or a launchpad for any military action against Iran, Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi told his Iranian counterpart, Abbas Araghchi, on Monday, Anadolu reports. Safadi’s remarks came over a phone call during which the ministers discussed bilateral and regional issues, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry said on US social media company X. Safadi said Amman will not allow any party to violate Jordan’s airspace or threaten its security and the safety of its citizens, “and will confront with all its capabilities any attempt to breach its airspace.” He reiterated Amman’s rejection of violating the sovereignty of states and highlighted the need to respect international law, according to the statement. The top diplomats

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  Hundreds of former EU officials call for stronger action against Israel

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  Hundreds of former EU and member state ministers, ambassadors and senior officials have called on the European Union to take “robust and sustained action” to increase pressure on Israel and end “unremitting violations of international law” in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, Anadolu reports. In a joint statement released Monday and co-signed by 404 former officials, the group urged the EU and its members to move beyond condemnatory statements and adopt concrete measures, including suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement and halting all military support to Israel. “A robust approach based on the EU’s founding values and principles will be essential to reestablish the Union’s reputation as a force for peace and good in our time,” the statement said.

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  EU rejects Iran’s announcement of listing of European armies as ‘terrorist groups’

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  The EU on Monday rejected Iran’s designation of European armies as terrorist organizations and said diplomatic engagement with Tehran must remain part of its foreign policy toolbox, Anadolu reports. Asked about Iran’s move to label EU armies as terrorist entities, spokesperson Anouar El Anouni told the European Commission’s midday press briefing: “We reject the announcement of listing of EU armies as such and the accusation of terrorism altogether.” He said the EU expected diplomatic engagement to continue despite tensions following the EU decision to list Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Recalling remarks by the EU’s high representative Kaja Kallas he said: “We expect diplomatic channels to remain open after the decision of listing IRGC as part of the EU terror

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  My response to a member of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council on joining the Board of Peace

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  I write this to refute an article published by ANTARA, Indonesia’s state owned news agency, and authored by a former Chair of Indonesia’s Regional Representative Council (DPD RI) for 2009 to 2016 and a current member of the DPD RI for 2024 to 2029 from West Sumatra. I respond directly to its arguments. I reject its framing, logic, and conclusions. The article opens by invoking Nelson Mandela, Desmond Tutu, and Mahatma Gandhi to justify engagement with power at any cost. I reject this comparison. Mandela and Tutu spoke about dialogue after apartheid was named as a crime and after sustained global pressure constrained its architects. Gandhi warned against revenge, not against accountability. None of them argued for cooperation with perpetrators

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  Iran denies Trump’s ‘ultimatum’ in talks with US

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  Iran on Monday denied receiving “any kind of ultimatum or deadline” in negotiations with the United States, as both sides acknowledged they are exchanging messages to ease tensions, Anadolu reports. Tehran has “always acted with honesty and seriousness” in diplomatic processes, but has “never accepted any kind of ultimatum or deadline,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said at his weekly press conference in Tehran. “Therefore, the claim that Iran has received any deadlines from the US cannot be confirmed.” US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he has given Iran a deadline to reach a deal, amid a rapid US military buildup in the Persian Gulf region. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump claimed that he had communicated

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  The SDF and the Assad regime: Parallels of self-inflicted collapse and cruelty

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  Is it possible for a state to develop, sustain economic growth, keep its citizens safe, and start to rebuild after many years of conflict when it does not fully control its own territory? This was the question facing Syria under Ahmed Al-Sharaa until recently, and whilst the state is still facing questions in the Sweida region in the far south, the size of the area and its population pale in comparison to the north-east, which was until recently controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF.  The collapse of the SDF was quick, and has been likened by commentators to the fall of Assad just over a year ago, but it was also self-inflicted and a result of poor decisions from

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  Spain condemns Israeli ban on Doctors Without Borders

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  The Spanish government on Monday condemned the Israeli decision to ban the activities of the medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in the Gaza Strip, Anadolu reports. “The Spanish Government condemns the decision by the Israeli authorities to impose a halt on the activities of Medecins Sans Frontieres, which are essential to alleviating the dramatic health situation of the Gazan population in the Gaza Strip,” the Foreign Ministry announced in a written statement. The statement reiterated that international humanitarian NGOs, like MSF, provide “irreplaceable assistance” in life-saving services across Gaza and the West Bank. “The work of MSF in Gaza, as well as that of all humanitarian organizations in the field of health, is essential in addressing the catastrophic humanitarian situation

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

  by MI on February 2, 2026

  MEMO spoke to Motasem A Dalloul, a survivor of Israel’s genocide in Gaza, in the first of a new series of regular updates from the ground. Dalloul describes the daily struggle to survive: hunger, cold, the collapse of healthcare, and ongoing Israeli violations despite the so-called ceasefire. WATCH: Gaza: On The Ground with Motasem A Dalloul | Week 19 Jan