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

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  “My plan”: Netanyahu letter reveals Israel’s bid to replace US aid with military fusion

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  A letter from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has exposed the driving force behind the push to restructure US-Israel military relations. In Netanyahu’s own words, it is “my plan”. The letter, shared widely on social media, reveals that the transition away from American military aid to Israel is not a US-led reform, but an Israeli initiative delivered to Congress for legislative packaging. Its purpose is not to reduce American entanglement with Israel, but to replace visible financial assistance with a far deeper and less accountable form of military integration. Dated 1 June, 2026 and addressed to Israeli lobby funded Congressman Marlin Stutzman of Indiana, the letter was released alongside a press statement announcing a House resolution introduced by Stutzman on

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  Israeli businessman claims Trump threatened Netanyahu through his wife over Lebanon plans

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  An Israeli businessman has claimed that US President Donald Trump threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his family in an effort to prevent a planned Israeli attack on Beirut’s southern suburbs, according to reports in Israeli media. The claims were made by Israeli businessman Roni Mani and reported by the Hebrew-language news website Walla. Mani said he had received information from what he described as a senior White House source regarding contacts between Trump and Sara Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister’s wife. According to Mani, Trump contacted Sara Netanyahu and urged her to persuade her husband to abandon plans for military action in Beirut’s southern suburbs. “My exclusive information, through my sources in the White House, confirms that Trump contacted

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  Report: Israeli police recruiting far- right religious Jewish police officers for service at Al-Aqsa Mosque compound

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  Israeli police have launched a recruitment initiative targeting far- right, religious Jews, including individuals involved in storming the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, according to a report published by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz. The report said Daniel Lerch, deputy commander of the police unit responsible for the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, circulated recruitment appeals through social media platforms and WhatsApp groups, including groups that reportedly contain settler activists and members of the far right. In a recruitment message cited by Haaretz, Lerch wrote: “We have launched a project to recruit religious police officers for the Temple Mount. Anyone who wants to participate in enforcing sovereignty is welcome to contact me.” According to the newspaper, several activists who support Jewish visits to the Al-Aqsa

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  Qatar Chooses Geography Over Ideology in Its Iran Diplomacy

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  Over the years, tiny Qatar has emerged as a pivotal regional mediator, deploying balanced approaches to critical crises stretching from the Gulf to the Horn of Africa with a high degree of success. More recently, Doha has had to navigate increasingly volatile conflicts closer to home, most notably the fallout from the current U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. By positioning itself as an indispensable diplomatic conduit, Doha has transformed its inherent geographic vulnerability into a strategic asset, proving that in a region often defined by rigid ideological blocs, pragmatic functional diplomacy remains the only viable path toward stability. This approach acknowledges the unyielding reality of geography: Iran is a permanent fixture of the regional landscape. Consequently, Doha’s policy is built on

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  Former Tunisia intel chief accuses Saied’s government of spying on opponents, fabricating cases

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  Former Tunisian intelligence chief Kamel Guizani has accused relatives of President Kais Saied and senior officials in Tunisia’s government of spying on opposition leaders and fabricating court cases to imprison them. Speaking on Al Jazeera’s Maghareb Podcast, Guizani alleged that members of Saied’s family and the president’s security chief were involved in surveillance operations and the unlawful use of state institutions. He said the case was the real reason behind the prosecution of judge Bashir Akremi and the dismissal of dozens of judges. Guizani also accused former Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine of overseeing the fabrication of security-related cases, in cooperation with the Justice Ministry, to target political and human rights opponents and strengthen the ruling system. He said that “some

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  Araghchi: Contacts with Washington continue despite stalled talks, rising tensions

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said contacts between Iran and the United States are continuing despite new attacks and growing speculation over the future of negotiations between the two countries. In an interview with Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen news agency, published by Iranian media on Wednesday, Araghchi said communication with the United States had not been cut off. He added that progress in the negotiations would not be possible until the end of the war involving Iran and Lebanon. In recent days, Iranian media outlets, citing sources familiar with the talks, reported that negotiations between the two sides had collapsed. However, US President Donald Trump denied the reports, writing earlier this week on his Truth Social platform: “Talks are continuing at a

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  Rights group: More than 9,500 missing in Gaza since start of war

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  A human rights organisation in Gaza has reported more than 9,500 cases of Palestinians who have gone missing or lost contact with their families since the start of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip on 7th October 2023, including around 4,700 women and children. In a report released on Tuesday evening titled Missing Palestinians in the Gaza Strip Amid the Genocidal War, Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights said the cases fall into five main categories. “The largest category consists of persons whose fate remains unknown beneath the rubble, estimated at more than 8,100 individuals trapped under the debris of tens of thousands of residential buildings and facilities that were completely destroyed as a result of the unprecedented aerial, ground, and naval bombardment,”

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  Egyptian billionaire Sawiris sparks debate after calling for closure of state TV

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  Egyptian businessman Naguib Sawiris has called for the closure of Egypt’s state television, arguing that it incurs annual losses and that no one watches its channels. Sawiris reposted a comment on X by a woman who said: “Naguib Sawiris Pasha is calling for the removal of Maspero, the headquarters of Egypt’s state television, to use its site for real estate development instead of calling for its revival in the service of culture.” She added: “When an ignorant person calls for something that affects a people from a one-dimensional perspective, it can be overlooked because they are ignorant. But when the person is educated and also works in the film industry, then every word they advocate should be held accountable.” Commenting

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  Israeli supreme court strikes down ban on Red Cross visits to Palestinian detainees

  by Marwa A on June 4, 2026

  Israel’s Supreme Court has ruled that a government policy introduced in October 2023 preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from visiting Palestinian prisoners and detainees or relaying information about them was unlawful. The court struck down the policy after the state failed for more than two years to provide any legal basis justifying its continuation. The ruling was issued unanimously by a panel including Justice Daphne Barak-Erez, who wrote the main judgment. The court concluded that the government had failed to present any legal foundation for the policy, despite being given “countless opportunities” throughout the proceedings to clarify its position and establish a legal justification. Barak-Erez said the case had been marked by exceptional circumstances, noting that

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  Italian activists from Gaza humanitarian aid flotilla say Israel tortured them

  by Marwa A on June 3, 2026

  Italians who took part in a humanitarian aid flotilla for Gaza said Wednesday that when the Israeli army attacked them last month in the Mediterranean in violation of international law, they abducted some activists, and subjected them to ill-treatment amounting to torture, Anadolu reports. “This time, the Israeli army responded to the flotilla much more violently” than in past humanitarian efforts, Antonio La Piccirella, who took part in the Global Sumud Flotilla’s 2026 Spring Mission, told a press conference in Rome. “There were two attacks, one of them off the coast of Europe. In the attack between Italy and Greece, they abducted two of our members, further violating international law. The other intervention was carried out in broad daylight and

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  UN warns of mass displacement, health care strain amid escalating Israeli strikes on Lebanon

  by Marwa A on June 3, 2026

  The UN on Wednesday expressed deep alarm about surging displacement and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Lebanon as Israeli military activity across the south reached record levels for the third consecutive day, Anadolu reports. “We are deeply concerned by the ongoing hostilities, as people continue to be forced to leave their homes in search of safety,” UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a news conference. Dujarric said an estimated 200,000 people were displaced from Beirut’s southern suburbs following an evacuation order issued by Israel on June 1, with tens of thousands more fleeing violence across southern Lebanon in recent days. “Nearly 135,000 people have registered in collective shelters, which are increasingly overcrowded, with thousands more staying on the streets and seaside,

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  The Palestine industry: The rats of Gaza and the opportunists among us

  by Marwa A on June 3, 2026

  It all started with a call to my family in a displacement camp in northern Gaza. Since internet lines rarely stay connected, I managed to send a message to the widow of my cousin—who was killed along with all of his sons during the ongoing Gaza genocide. I asked her a simple question: what do Gazans want? My purpose was to gather raw testimonies from her neighbours to weave into a letter to a European official whose country is active in pursuing justice for Palestinians. I chose this approach to bypass clichéd political discourse and avoid the pitfall of speaking on behalf of those enduring genocide and famine. Palestinians in Gaza are entirely capable of speaking for themselves. The responses,

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  Iran claims US patriot missile, not Iranian strike, destroyed Kuwait airport terminal

  by Marwa A on June 3, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) spokesperson Hossein Mohbi claimed on Wednesday that a US-made Patriot missile was responsible for the destruction of the passenger terminal building at Kuwait International Airport. According to the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Mohbi said an investigation had been conducted into the attack on the airport terminal, claiming that the IRGC Air Force had not targeted the facility. He said the findings showed that the destruction of the terminal was caused by a malfunction in US Patriot air defence systems, which failed to intercept Iranian missiles and instead fell onto the building. Earlier on Wednesday, the IRGC said in a statement that it had targeted what it described as US military bases and sites in

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  What awaits Iraq’s militias under Tom Barrack?

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  It won’t take long to understand what lies ahead for Iraq—and for the Iran‑aligned militias—after President Donald Trump appointed Tom Barrack as his Special Presidential Envoy for Syria and Iraq. All one needs is the paragraph Barrack published just hours after the announcement. He wrote that “the balance of power around which the United States operates works best when allies become more self‑reliant and share the burden—always within a framework that preserves American influence, stability, and alignment with core U.S. strategic objectives.” That single sentence makes something unmistakably clear: Washington no longer views Iraq as a political file requiring relationship management, but as a security file requiring decision management. The irony is that the focus on Barrack’s name obscures the

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  Israeli flight diverts to Croatia after Slovenia denies landing

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Slovenia on Wednesday prevented the landing of a plane chartered by the Israeli company Israir, citing the lack of necessary permits, Israel’s public broadcaster KAN reported. The plane, operated by the Croatian company Trade Air working on behalf of Israir, diverted its route toward Croatia after Slovenian authorities refused to allow it to land, according to KAN. Israir’s CEO Uri Sirkis, for his part, called the move “political,” claiming that it was caused by Slovenia’s “clear opposition to the policies and direction pursued by Israel.” No official statement has immediately been issued by the Slovenian government regarding the matter. READ: Slovenia joins Spain in urging EU to protect independence of ICC, UN on Gaza

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  The legitimacy of the United States’ hosting of the 2026 World Cup is offside

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  The United States, by obstructing the entry of the national football teams of Iran and South Africa on political grounds, has called into question the legitimacy of its own hosting role. On May 31, 2026, the charter flight carrying South Africa’s national football team never took off from Johannesburg. At least 20 players and staff members, despite months of effort, had failed to obtain transit visas to pass through U.S. territory. The country’s sports minister stated bluntly: “We are being dribbled past.” This is not the first time that the U.S. visa bureaucracy has plunged into crisis on the eve of a major international event. This time, however, the crisis has ensnared not a peripheral state, but one of the

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  Palestine urges US to stop Israeli ‘madness’ after new illegal settlement plans in occupied West Bank

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  The Palestinian Authority condemned Israel’s decision to build 2,162 illegal settlement units in the occupied West Bank, calling for US intervention to halt the Israeli “madness.” “All settlement activity is illegal under international law and does not confer legitimacy to anyone,” the authority said in a statement carried by the official news agency Wafa. It said the Israeli decision constitutes a “blatant challenge to international law and UN resolutions,” particularly UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which affirms the illegality of the Israeli settlements in all occupied Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem. It held the Israeli authorities responsible for the “serious consequences” of the settlement policies, warning that they would push the region toward “further cycles of violence and escalation.” READ: Situation

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  Lebanese soldier killed in Israeli strike in new ceasefire violation

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  A Lebanese soldier was killed in an Israeli airstrike in southern Lebanon, the military said Wednesday, as Israel continued daily violations of an ongoing ceasefire, Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement, the army said the soldier was killed in the strike that targeted him while traveling on the Nabatieh-Kfartebnit road. The attack came a day after Lebanese and Israeli officials held a fourth round of US-sponsored talks in Washington aimed at preserving the ceasefire and addressing unresolved security issues. Israel has continued near-daily airstrikes and ground attacks in Lebanon despite a ceasefire that took effect on April 17 and was later extended until early July. Since March 2, the Israeli attacks have killed nearly 3,500 people, and displaced over 1.6 million,

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  French prime minister says Israel must end ‘illegal occupation’ of Lebanese territory

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday called on Israel to end its “illegal occupation” of Lebanese territory, warning that the country’s military strategy risks undermining regional stability, Anadolu Agency reports. Addressing the French National Assembly, Lecornu said the fragile ceasefire in Lebanon must be respected and criticized the ongoing Israeli military operations. “It is clear that not only must the ceasefire be respected, it is fragile, to say the least, even resembling a kind of ‘ceasefire through fire,’ which is unacceptable, but Israel must put an end to this war and to the illegal occupation it maintains on Lebanese territory,” he said. Lecornu argued that the conflict in Lebanon cannot be separated from wider efforts to address tensions involving

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  The Iron Dome of Lies: Rape, Ruin & Plunder | Palestine This Week with Mouin Rabbani

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  In this episode of Palestine This Week, we examine Israel’s addition to a UN blacklist over sexual violence in conflict, Dr Nick Maynard’s harrowing testimony from Gaza and the wider backlash to evidence of abuse against Palestinians. We also discuss plans to turn Gaza’s destruction into an investment opportunity, tensions between Trump and Netanyahu over Lebanon, stalled ceasefire diplomacy with Iran and the UAE’s reported role in the regional war. The episode closes by looking at US efforts to integrate Israel’s military with its own, the Democrats’ refusal to confront Gaza’s electoral impact and Western crackdowns on critics of Israel. Get your copy of ‘Gaza Apocalypse’ by Mouin Rabbani: https://orbooks.com/catalog/gaza-apocalypse/   WATCH: US ‘Suicidal Empathy’ for Israel as Gaza Faces Apocalypse

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  Green Party leader joins campaign calling for UK probe into British nationals who served in Israeli army

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  A campaign calling on the UK government to investigate and monitor British nationals who served in the Israeli army during the Gaza genocide has gained public support, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski among more than 60 signatories to an open letter published by Declassified UK and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP). The campaign, titled Nobody Wants to Live Next to a War Criminal, calls on the government to track the movements of British nationals who have served in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) since October 2023, subject returning fighters to screening at ports of entry and support robust war crimes investigations under domestic and international law. The campaign follows revelations that at least 2,069 British nationals

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  Modern technology and contemporary wars: A reading of the “digital conflict and competition environment” and intelligence work

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  General context Modern technology today is no longer merely a set of tools for communication or information processing; rather, it has become an integrated environment within which states, societies, institutions, and contemporary conflicts operate. With the major expansion of artificial intelligence, digital platforms, satellites, drones, and cyber infrastructures, the world now exists within a “digital conflict and competition environment” in which information, influence, communication, perception, and political and security decision-making overlap in unprecedented ways. Within this environment, wars and conflicts are no longer managed solely through traditional military confrontations, but are increasingly conducted simultaneously within cyberspace, the information domain, and arenas of media and cognitive influence. Data — along with its analysis and interconnection — as well as the ability

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  Brazil drawn with Morocco, Haiti, Scotland in 2026 FIFA World Cup Group C

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Brazil will face Morocco, Haiti and Scotland in Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to the official tournament schedule, Anadolu Agency reports. The group will get underway on June 14, with five-time champions Brazil taking on Morocco in New York/New Jersey at 1 am local time (0500GMT). Haiti will face Scotland later the same day in Boston at 4 am local time (0800GMT). On June 20, Scotland will meet Morocco in Boston at 1 am local time (0500GMT), while Brazil will play Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field at 3.30 am local time (0730GMT). The final Group C matches will be played on June 25, with Morocco facing Haiti in Atlanta and Scotland taking on Brazil in Miami. Both

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  Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei involved with negotiations to end war

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Iran’s ​Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is involved with negotiations for a deal to end the war, and that the two “seem to be getting along quite well,” Anadolu Agency reports. “He’s involved, absolutely. Yeah, I think they have a lot of respect for him,” Trump said of Khamenei, adding that he would like to meet him “at some point.” “I’d like to meet him. We’ll probably meet at some point, depending on how it all works out,” he said in an interview with Pod Force One. The US president said Iran has already agreed to not have a nuclear weapon, arguing “that was a big thing.” “We can’t let them have a

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  Israeli diplomat forced to cut short address at UN Labour Conference in Geneva

  by Marwa A on June 3, 2026

  An Israeli official was unable to complete his address at a United Nations international conference due to loud protests and disruptions from attendees, Anadolu reports. Israeli diplomat Waleed Gadban took the floor during the General Assembly of the International Labour… pic.twitter.com/bFh5hoD08z — Middle East Monitor (@MiddleEastMnt) June 3, 2026 An Israeli official was unable to complete his address at a United Nations international conference due to loud protests and disruptions from attendees, Anadolu reports. Israeli diplomat Waleed Gadban took the floor during the General Assembly of the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) 114th International Labour Conference. However, his remarks were cut short by widespread backlash from the audience. Numerous government ministers, alongside trade union, worker, and employer representatives in the hall,

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  Gulf bloc denounces Iran’s ‘dangerous escalation’ after attacks on Bahrain, Kuwait

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi on Wednesday condemned ongoing Iranian attacks against Bahrain and Kuwait, calling them a “dangerous and unprecedented escalation,” Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement, Albudaiwi denounced the attacks on “civilian objects, infrastructure, headquarters and diplomatic missions” in the two Gulf states. He said the attacks constitute a “dangerous and unprecedented escalation” and reflect the “Iranian regime’s insistence on pursuing rejected hostile policies targeting the security, stability and sovereignty of the GCC states.” READ: Kuwait says 1 killed in Iranian attacks, retains ‘full right’ to respond Albudaiwi added that the continued attacks demonstrate Iran’s persistence in pursuing policies aimed at undermining regional security “in blatant defiance of international law, the UN Charter and all international

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  Kuwait says 1 killed in Iranian attacks, retains ‘full right’ to respond

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Kuwait said Wednesday that Iranian strikes killed one person, injured several others and damaged key facilities, including diplomatic missions, stressing it “reserves the full right” to respond to the attacks, Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement, the Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Iran’s “brutal and continued attacks” using ballistic missiles and drones, saying the latest strikes early Wednesday targeted “civilian and vital” facilities, including Kuwait International Airport. The ministry said the attacks resulted in one death, multiple injuries and damage to critical infrastructure, including diplomatic missions. The statement said Kuwait retains its “full and inherent right” to take appropriate measures in response to the attacks “in accordance with international law.” READ: Over 1,000 arrested as Gulf states crush public reaction to Iran attacks

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  Over 1,000 arrested as Gulf states crush public reaction to Iran attacks

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Authorities across the Gulf have arrested more than 1,000 people in a sweeping crackdown on expression linked to the US-Israeli war with Iran and Iranian attacks on Gulf states, Amnesty International said, warning that governments are using national security claims to silence information-sharing and peaceful political views. The rights group said authorities in Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Oman issued broad warnings against sharing online content deemed to spread “rumours” or “false information” about the war. The crackdown has included arrests for filming missile interceptions, sharing footage of damage caused by projectiles, reposting content related to the conflict or expressing sympathy with Iran or the Iranian people. The most egregious cases were reported in Kuwait

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  US envoy welcomes Iraqi move to place weapons under state control

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  US Special Envoy for Syria and Iraq Tom Barrack welcomed Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi’s support for integrating armed groups into state institutions and placing weapons under government control, Anadolu Agency reports. “We extend our congratulations to Iraqi Prime Minister @AliFalihAlzaidy on this significant step forward, which represents the nascent foundation for a renewed Iraqi self-governance — grounded in restored sovereignty, enduring stability, and the promise of national renewal,” Barrack, who is also US Ambassador to Türkiye, said on the US social media company X. He also praised Iraqi groups that have decided to relinquish their weapons to the state. “We likewise commend those groups whose principled decision to return all weapons to the Iraqi state will contribute to the

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  China urges US, Iran to ‘honor’ ceasefire amid ‘renewed warfare’

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  China on Wednesday called on the US and Iran to “honor” the ceasefire, urging the warring sides against “renewed warfare,”Anadolu Agency reports. “China is deeply concerned over the current situation,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing. The statement from the Chinese government came after the US said it conducted strikes on Qeshm Island in “response to attempted attacks by Iran across the Middle East.” It added that the US army and its partner military forces intercepted multiple Iranian missiles and drones. Kuwait also said its air defense systems responded to “hostile” missile and drone attacks in the early hours of Wednesday. Mao said the “renewed warfare serves no one’s interest.” “We hope relevant parties can cherish the

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  Passports, prisons, and Palestine: Pakistan’s official anti-Zionism

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  There is a species of Islamabad analysis that should be served on expensive hotel stationery, with diplomatic coffee, complimentary ambiguity, and a small warning at the bottom: may contain traces of reality. The recent Middle East Eye  piece — “Why Pakistan will likely refuse to join the Abraham Accords” — belongs gloriously to this genre: It mistakes elite choreography for the country’s actual politics, passport inscriptions for anti-imperialism, and conversations conducted somewhere between GHQ, the Prime Minister’s House, and the Serena Hotel lobby for the pulse of a country of 240 million people. This is not analysis. It is elite gossip dressed up as geopolitical insight.  The Passport Is Not a Revolution Yes, Pakistani passports exclude Israel. Yes, Pakistan has

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  Yemen’s Houthis threaten Israel with “major, comprehensive” response if escalation in Lebanon continues

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  A senior leader of Yemen’s Houthi group on Tuesday threatened Israel with a “major and comprehensive” response if it continues its violations and military escalation in Lebanon. The remarks were made by Mohammed Al-Farah, a member of the group’s political bureau, according to the Houthi-run Al Masirah television channel. In late March, the Houthis joined the confrontation in support of Iran during the war involving Israel and the United States against Tehran, as well as in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon. The Israeli military has continued what Lebanon describes as deadly violations of the fragile ceasefire agreement, while a fourth round of talks between Beirut and Tel Aviv remains under way in Washington. READ: Netanyahu orders attacks on Beirut’s Dahiyeh

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  WFP: One-quarter of Lebanon’s population facing acute food insecurity

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a worsening humanitarian crisis in Lebanon, nearly three months after the outbreak of the conflict. The agency said more than one million people remain displaced, while food insecurity continues to rise due to higher prices, loss of income and growing pressure on markets. In a statement carried by Lebanon’s National News Agency (NNA), the WFP said it had provided emergency food and cash assistance to more than 700,000 conflict-affected people across Lebanon since 2nd March. The agency also distributed around five million hot meals and supported more than 215,000 displaced people in shelters. In addition, it delivered 24 humanitarian convoys to southern areas and border villages despite major security challenges that

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  Tunisian court sentences Ennahda Leader Rached Ghannouchi to Life in prison

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  A Tunisian court on Tuesday handed down its verdicts in the case known in the media as the Ennahda Movement’s “secret apparatus” case, involving 35 defendants. The Criminal Chamber specialising in terrorism cases at the Tunis Court of First Instance issued sentences ranging from 10 years in prison to life imprisonment, as well as cumulative prison terms amounting to several decades. The court sentenced Ennahda leader Rached Ghannouchi to life imprisonment in addition to 30 years in prison. His deputy, Ali Laarayedh, was sentenced to 42 years in prison, while Mustapha Khedher received a 96-year sentence. The court also sentenced Ridha Barouni, al Tahar Boubehri, Kamal Aifi, and seven other defendants to life imprisonment in addition to 76 years in

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  Israel criticises France over restricted defence expo participation

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Israel on Tuesday sharply criticised France over its decision to limit Israel’s participation in the Eurosatory defence exhibition, due to take place in Paris in mid-June. In a statement on X, Israel’s Foreign Ministry described France’s decision to exclude Israel from parts of the exhibition as “discriminatory, politically motivated, and deeply disappointing.”  The ministry said that France has, once again, chosen politics over principles. On Monday evening, Israel’s Defence Ministry said French authorities had informed it that Israel would not be allowed to set up a national pavilion at the exhibition and that government representatives would be barred from attending. However, France agreed to allow Israeli companies to display air and missile defence systems only, without offensive weapons or military

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  Iran accuses US of launching attacks on tanker, Qeshm Island from bases in Kuwait, Bahrain

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused the US of carrying out attacks on an Iranian oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz and a communications tower on Qeshm Island from bases in Kuwait and Bahrain. In a statement carried by the semi-official Fars News Agency, the ministry said it “strongly condemns” what it described as an “aggressive action by the terrorist US military” against the tanker and the communications facility. The ministry said the attacks were launched early Wednesday “from two countries in the region,” before identifying Kuwait and Bahrain. It accused Washington of using the territory and facilities of regional countries to carry out military operations against Iran, saying the governments of Kuwait and Bahrain bear “direct and clear

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  International Energy Agency warns oil inventories could fall to critical levels

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  International Energy Agency official Toril Bosoni warned that global oil inventories could reach historically low levels before the peak summer demand season if current stock drawdowns continue. Speaking at the Middle East Oil & Gas Conference organized by S&P Global in London, Bosoni said: “We are seeing stock drawdowns continue into the summer, with the possibility or likelihood that we will reach critical or historically low levels just before the peak summer demand period.” According to Bosoni, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could take between six and eight months even if a political agreement were reached immediately. She explained that this scenario could eventually require additional coordinated releases from strategic emergency reserves overseen by the International Energy Agency.

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  Iran-US message exchanges halted for at least several days now: Iranian media

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Exchanges of messages between Iran and the United States related to efforts to reach a preliminary memorandum of understanding have been halted for at least several days now, the semi-official Fars News Agency reported Tuesday. The source said recent media reports and statements by some Western officials portraying communications between Tehran and Washington as routine “do not reflect the current reality.” According to the source, message exchanges between the two sides regarding what has been described as an initial memorandum of understanding have been suspended for several days now. The Iranian source said the latest message from Iran to Washington was a “public message” concerning Lebanon that received broad international attention. US President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with

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  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Ali Akbar Dareini: How Long This no-War-no-Peace Will Last?

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Dr Rory Miller: What thread connects Iran, Cuba, and energy?

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  Israel ex- PM criticises Netanyahu government and questions Lebanon strategy

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak sharply criticized the government of Benjamin Netanyahu over its conduct of the war in Lebanon, arguing that Israel cannot eliminate Hezbollah through military action alone. Speaking to Israeli radio station 103FM, Barak said the government was misleading the public about the war’s results and casualty figures. “The government is deceiving the public, and Netanyahu is counting the bodies.” Barak rejected official claims regarding the number of Hezbollah fighters killed, saying “not 800 terrorists were killed, nor 400. This is all nonsense”. He also dismissed statements that Hezbollah had been set back by decades as an “illusion”. Barak argued that Israelis are being misled by suggestions that Israel could eliminate Hezbollah if political constraints were

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  Israeli authorities issue order to seize 74 acres East of Bethlehem

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  The Palestinian Authority’s Commission Against the Wall and Settlements announced that Israeli authorities have issued a military order to seize approximately 74 acres of privately owned Palestinian land in the Jabal al-Fureidis (Herodion) area east of Bethlehem. According to the commission, the order targets land belonging to the Arab al-Ta’amra community and was issued under the stated justification of “expropriation for public purposes” and the development of an archaeological site. The head of the commission, Mu’ayyad Sha’ban, said the measure represents the third land expropriation order issued by Israeli authorities since the beginning of 2026. He stated that the order forms part of what the commission describes as an accelerated policy aimed at expanding legal and administrative control over Palestinian

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  The Gaza genocide drops the last fig leaf of Western democracy and tolerance

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  For decades, Western democracies presented themselves as the gold standard of exemplary governance and tolerance; the shining “beacons of hope” that the rest of the world was expected to follow. But the Gaza genocide has torn that facade apart. What we have witnessed over the past two years is not a reflection of democracy but its humiliation. What we have seen is not the protection of human rights but patterns of racism and intolerance. The mask is off, exposing a system built on double standards, selective outrage, and a chilling willingness to crush the very freedoms it claims to champion. The Dutch shame: A pregnant woman vs. a police officer with his dog Few incidents have exposed this hypocrisy as

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  New Zealand bans entry of extremist settlers

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  New Zealand on Tuesday announced travel bans on three extremist Israeli settlers over their role in expanding illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank. Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the ban applies to Israelis Itamar Yehuda Levi; Harel David Libi; and Eliav Libi, stating that they “have actively worked to expand illegal settlements in the West Bank, including through violence.”     Peters said: “The actions of these individuals threaten peace and security for Israelis and Palestinians and drive the region further into crisis.” He stressed that “New Zealand has consistently stated that Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories are a violation of international law.” “Expanding settlements, and the violence that accompanies it, undermines prospects for a two-state solution,” Peters said,

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  Gaza Health Ministry: May marks deadliest month of 2026 so far

  by MI on June 3, 2026

  The Gaza Health Ministry said May recorded the highest death toll since the start of the year, amid continued attacks on civilians and residential areas across the enclave. According to the ministry’s statistical report, 119 Palestinians were killed across the Gaza Strip during May alone, making it the deadliest month of 2026 so far. The ministry said the most vulnerable groups of civilians were among those affected, with children, women and elderly people accounting for 30 per cent of the total number of fatalities during the month. It said 19 children were killed, representing 16 per cent of the total death toll, while 10 women were killed, accounting for 8.5 per cent of those killed. The ministry added that children,

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  Rubio says Iran’s supreme leader alive, ‘increasingly engaging’ through intermediaries

  by MI on June 2, 2026

  US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and “increasingly engaging at some level,” although he has not appeared publicly after he was injured at the beginning of the war, Anadolu Agency reports. “We haven’t seen him publicly, and I would imagine, given what’s happened to multiple leaders in that system, being very public is probably not something that’s recommended for them internally, but that said, I think there are indications out there that he is increasingly engaging at some level, although all of his communications have been in writing and through intermediaries,” Rubio told lawmakers during a hearing at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said Iran’s internal decision-making process appears

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  Hamas denies refusing to hand over governance in Gaza

  by MI on June 2, 2026

  Hamas on Tuesday denied allegations that it is refusing to relinquish control of the Gaza Strip, describing claims by some on the Board of Peace as “misleading lies intended to provide cover for the occupation to continue its aggression,” Anadolu Agency reports. Spokesperson Hazem Qassem reiterated Hamas’ full readiness to transfer all governing responsibilities, including security matters, to the National Committee for Gaza Administration based in Cairo, which he said had been agreed upon by the parties. He argued that the main obstacle to the committee’s work was Israel, along with Nikolay Mladenov, executive director of the Board of Peace, accusing them of linking all tracks of negotiations to a single issue in a manner that diverges from US President Donald

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  Hormuz disruptions could raise vulnerable economies’ oil import costs by $20B per year: UN trade agency

  by MI on June 2, 2026

  Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could increase the annual oil import bill of vulnerable economies by more than $20 billion, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) said Tuesday, Anadolu reports. That would place additional pressure on countries already facing significant economic challenges. In a new report, UNCTAD said 65 of 75 vulnerable economies, including least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS), are net importers of oil. Together, the economies are home to 983 million people, more than 30% of whom live below the extreme poverty line of $3 a day. The agency said crude oil prices have risen by more than 40% and gasoline prices by more than 50% following the latest military

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  Trump says talks with Iran ‘going on continuously,’ adds, ‘where they lead, one never knows’

  by MI on June 2, 2026

  US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that diplomatic exchanges with Tehran are proceeding without interruption, contradicting reports of halted communications, Anadolu Agency reports. “The conversations between us have been going on continuously,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social, noting that dialogue has occurred daily throughout the week. He said reports of stopped communications are “false and erroneous.” Regarding the outcome of the efforts, the US president remarked, “Where they lead, one never knows.” Trump insisted that Tehran must reach a settlement after nearly five decades of friction, asserting that the situation “cannot be allowed to go on any longer.” His comments follow reports from the semi-official Tasnim agency that Iran suspended talks via mediators to protest Israeli

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  Israel orders seizure of 30 hectares of Palestinian land in southern West Bank: Official

  by MI on June 2, 2026

  Israeli authorities have issued a military order to seize 30 hectares (74 acres) of Palestinian land near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank under the pretext of expropriation for public purposes, a Palestinian official said on Tuesday, Anadolu Agency reports. Moayad Shaaban, head of the Palestinian Wall and Settlement Resistance Commission, said the order targets land in the Jabal Al-Fureidis area near Bethlehem and is intended to facilitate the development of what Israel describes as an archaeological site. In a statement, Shaaban said the measure was the third expropriation order issued by Israeli authorities since the beginning of 2026. He warned that the decision forms part of a broader policy aimed at imposing legal and administrative control over Palestinian land

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  Trump administration pressures Oman to cut ties with Tehran: Report

  by MI on June 2, 2026

  The US has intensified diplomatic pressure on Oman, demanding the Gulf state abandon its historic neutrality and sever diplomatic relations with Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal story on Monday, Anadolu Agency reports. American and Arab officials indicated that Washington now views Oman’s policy on Iran as being actively hostile to US interests. The Trump administration has reportedly threatened to impose sanctions or even launch military strikes against Oman following intelligence assessments suggesting the country might join Iran in taxing commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Both countries have coasts on the strategic waterway. The Omani leadership has denied these allegations, maintaining that its neutral stance is essential for regional mediation. However, US officials remain skeptical, citing Oman’s