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

• 
  Belgian university rector urges government to allow entry of 13 Gazan students

  by Mehdi Editor on September 16, 2026

  The rector of Belgium’s KU Leuven University called on the government to allow 13 Palestinian students from Gaza to enter the country and begin their studies, public broadcaster VRT reported on Wednesday. Speaking to the broadcaster, Severine Vermeire said she was “angry and indignant” over the uncertainty surrounding the students, three of whom were scheduled to begin their studies at KU Leuven this week. “There is only one right decision: those 13 students must be able to come to Belgium,” she said. Vermeire said the university considers the students victims of what she described as “political games” and said Belgian university rectors have been raising the issue with the federal government for months. READ:  Israeli universities expel 100 Palestinian students over

• 
  70% of hospital generators in Gaza out of service: Health Ministry

  by Mehdi Editor on September 16, 2026

  About 70% of electricity generators at hospitals in the Gaza Strip have gone out of service due to shortages of fuel, oil, and spare parts amid the ongoing Israeli blockade, the Health Ministry said Wednesday, Anadolu reports. Zaher Al-Wahidi, director of the ministry’s Health Information Center, said during a press conference at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City that shortages of fuel and oil threatened to bring critical and life-saving hospital departments to a halt at any moment. Wahidi rejected Israeli claims that it was facilitating the entry of medical aid and logistical supplies into the Gaza Strip, emphasizing that they are attempts to “improve the image” of the situation and conceal a campaign of “ethnic cleansing” in the enclave. He said

• 
  5 children among 20 Palestinians killed as war-damaged building collapses in Gaza City

  by Mehdi Editor on September 16, 2026

  At least 20 Palestinians, including five children, were killed Wednesday when a residential building housing displaced people that had been damaged during Israel’s genocidal war collapsed in western Gaza City, according to Palestinian sources. Zaher Al-Wahidi, director of the Health Information Center at Gaza’s Health Ministry, told Anadolu Agency that 20 Palestinians were killed when the Al-Saada building in the city’s Al-Sinaa area collapsed. Earlier, Gaza’s Health Ministry said in a statement that 16 people were killed and more than 25 others were injured in the collapse. The ministry said the incident brought the total number of people killed in the collapse of buildings damaged during Israeli attacks to 50. Palestinian Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bassal said during a news

• 
  Zionist billionaire pressure to silence Macklemore sparks exodus from Ed Sheeran tour

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Ed Sheeran’s backing band and three supporting acts have withdrawn from his tour after Macklemore was dropped following pressure from billionaire Robert Kraft and other stadium owners over the rapper’s pro-Palestinian performances. Irish band Beoga, singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe, Danish band Lukas Graham and US musician Finneas announced their departures yesterday. Macklemore said Kraft, the pro-Israel billionaire whose company owns Gillette Stadium and the New England Patriots, told Sheeran he would not be allowed to perform at the stadium. The rapper also accused Kraft of rallying other stadium owners to issue an ultimatum. Kraft confirmed that he opposed Macklemore’s participation at Gillette Stadium, citing his performances and what he described as anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery. Promoter Messina Touring Group separately confirmed

• 
  Global Alliance for Palestine unveils legislative advocacy initiative ahead of October day of action

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Following the announcement of its global mobilisation window from October 9–11, 2026 – culminating in a Global Day of Action on Saturday, October 10 – the Global Alliance for Palestine (GAFP) is broadening its strategy to launch a member-led legislative drive. This mobilisation initiative, GAFP said, comes against the backdrop of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and the escalating state-sponsored settler violence, land seizures, and forced displacement across the occupied West Bank. Its aims are to confront political complicity and demand international accountability. GAFP said it will pursue these aims “by pairing traditional grassroots tactics – such as public demonstrations, campus walkouts, and peaceful blockades – with targeted parliamentary advocacy, the Alliance is seeking to channel mounting public outrage directly

• 
  Pakistan’s bet: Power without becoming a pawn

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Small and middle powers rarely choose their geography. They only choose what to do with it. Pakistan sits at the seam of South Asia, the Gulf, and China. It cannot out-produce Beijing. It cannot out-spend Riyadh. It cannot match Washington’s reach. But it can make itself impossible to bypass. That is the calculation now unfolding in Islamabad, and it deserves to be read through the cold lens of realism, not the warm language of diplomacy. Start with the concept itself. Zbigniew Brzezinski gave it a name in The Grand Chessboard: the geopolitical pivot. He defined pivots as states “whose importance is derived not from their power and motivation but rather from their sensitive location and from the consequences of their

• 
  From Caspian gas to Turkish industry: SOCAR’s geopolitical energy strategy

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  State Oil Company of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) has become one of Türkiye’s largest foreign investors and a core pillar of the Baku–Ankara energy partnership. Since acquiring Petkim in 2008, the Azerbaijani state energy company has built an integrated portfolio spanning petrochemicals, refining, gas transit, logistics, storage, and power generation. SOCAR reports approximately $18.5 billion invested in Türkiye, while Azerbaijani officials cite around $19 billion; the additional $7 billion polyolefin expansion remains a future commitment, not current investment. This portfolio creates commercial value for Azerbaijan and strengthens its regional influence, while Türkiye gains capital, industrial capacity, refined products, petrochemical feedstock, gas connectivity, and electricity generation. The partnership is therefore a potential win-win, although exposed to market volatility, geopolitical instability,

• 
  Gaza healthcare system nears collapse as logistical support halts

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  IMAGES: Gaza dentists protest shortage of dental supplies caused by Israeli restrictions

• 
  Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with Paolo von Schirach: Toppling Maduro: Ushering Democracy or Imperial Grab??

  by Mehdi Editor on September 16, 2026

  WATCH: Podcast by Jasim Al-Azzawi with John Kiriakou: Why Is Hatred Toward Israel Rising?

• 
  Gaza: Six-storey building collapses with 60 inside

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  IMAGES: Gaza dentists protest shortage of dental supplies caused by Israeli restrictions

• 
  Trump plans $2.8bn sale of 40,000 heavy bombs to Israel

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  The Trump administration is preparing a $2.8 billion weapons package for Israel containing 40,000 2,000-pound bombs, despite longstanding concerns over the devastating impact of the munitions on civilians in Gaza. The proposed package includes 20,000 MK-84 bombs and 20,000 BLU-117 bombs, according to a US official familiar with the plans cited by Reuters. Relevant congressional committees have been informed informally of the planned sale, which was first reported by the Washington Post. Read: US approves $3 billion military sales to Israel amid ceasefire talks Most of the package would be paid for through US Foreign Military Financing, according to Associated Press. Under that programme, Washington provides funds that Israel uses to purchase American weapons, meaning US taxpayers would finance much

• 
  Riyadh phones Tel Aviv: From petro-power to palace panic

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Sometimes an entire political order confesses itself in a single telephone call. Saudi Arabia, custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, self-appointed pillar of Arab leadership and purchaser of some of the most expensive weaponry ever manufactured, has reportedly found itself seeking Israeli intelligence assistance through US Central Command against Ansar Allah in Yemen. The Jerusalem Post reports that CENTCOM-mediated discussions concerned intelligence that could help Riyadh understand Houthi deployments and future operations. There is something almost indecently perfect about the image. For decades, the Saudi state cultivated the mythology of sovereignty while constructing one of the most elaborate systems of strategic dependency in modern history. Washington supplied the security architecture. Western contractors supplied the weapons. Foreign technicians sustained the machinery.

• 
  Al‑Zaidi and the age of the unqualified politician

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  The age of the unqualified politician is not a rhetorical flourish; it is a reality that becomes painfully visible every time a press conference turns into a stage for intellectual shallowness. The remarks made by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al‑Zaidi during his visit to Berlin were not a slip of the tongue. They were a concentrated example of a deeper structural defect within Iraq’s governing class. Standing in one of Europe’s most important capitals, al‑Zaidi struggled to articulate a single coherent political sentence—offering instead a clumsy assertion that “the world is heading toward stability, and only a little time remains,” likening global politics to the simple transition from night to day. This is not the language of a statesman; it

• 
  Jewish supremacist manufacturing a civilizational threat to license bigotry

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Jewish hatred is real and must be condemned without qualification. But it cannot be fought by propagating hatred against the followers of another religion. Demonizing Muslims does not combat antisemitism; it simply transfers prejudice from one target to another. Sadly, that is precisely the objective of Jewish supremacists who readily invoke antisemitism to shut down debate and weaponize anti-Muslim hatred, redirecting public attention away from Israel’s policies of genocide and dispossession. At the recent Republican Jewish Coalition’s summit in Las Vegas, Florida congressman Randy Fine told the crowd that the problem was not radical Islamism but “mainstream” Islam. In a separate interview, Fine went further, suggesting some civilizations are simply superior to others. Texas Congressman Brandon Gill referred to a

• 
  Houthi official denies targeting Mecca with drone

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  The Houthi group on Wednesday denied targeting Mecca with a drone, after the Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted a drone south of the holy city before it entered restricted airspace. Mohammed Al-Farah, a member of the Houthis’ political office, said the claim that Yemen had targeted Mecca was “an outright lie with no basis in truth”, according to the Houthi-run Saba news agency. “We are more concerned about Mecca and the holy sites than those who exploit them politically,” he said, accusing Saudi Arabia of using the allegation “to divert attention from the crisis it is facing in Yemen”. Al-Farah said Saudi Arabia was facing a “real dilemma” in Yemen after becoming involved in what he described as a

• 
  Israeli army chief tells Netanyahu Hamas defeated, confrontation over

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Israeli army Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz that Hamas had suffered a military defeat and that the confrontation with the group was effectively over, an Israeli newspaper reported. Zamir made the remarks during a closed-door security briefing earlier this month held during a visit by army commanders to the Gaza Strip, where intelligence assessments of Hamas’s current capabilities and activity were discussed. During the discussion, an intelligence official pointed to signs that Hamas was seeking to regain influence and re-establish control, warning that it still posed a security threat despite the strikes it had suffered. Zamir, however, said the assessments reflected the group’s intentions more than its actual capabilities. He

• 
  Israeli forces detain Palestinian-American journalist in Bethlehem

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Israeli forces detained Palestinian-American journalist Naqaa Hamed at a military checkpoint in Tuqu, southeast of Bethlehem, on Tuesday evening, local sources said. The forces stopped Hamed as she crossed the checkpoint in the town, before detaining her and taking her to an unknown location, the sources said. Later, Israeli forces set up another military checkpoint in the Al-Jurn area of Battir village, west of Bethlehem, stopping Palestinian motorists, searching their vehicles and checking their identities. Hamed is a Palestinian-American dual national and has previously faced an incitement campaign on Israeli websites and social media platforms over her coverage of events in Qusra, south of Nablus. The village has witnessed repeated attacks by Israeli settlers and attempts to seize homes there.

• 
  UN urges access for international investigators to Gaza as hundreds of bodies remain under rubble

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  The United Nations on Tuesday called for international investigators to be given access to all parts of Gaza to help gather evidence, as hundreds of bodies are recovered from under the rubble nearly three years into the war. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement that “the remains of what appears to be entire families are now being unearthed at locations that were pulverised by Israeli attacks”, stressing that “the discovery of extensive remains under the rubble in Gaza City resurfaces (the) concerns of war crimes and other atrocity crimes”. “I worry the remains recovered so far may only be the tip of the iceberg,” Turk added, saying that “much of Gaza has been flattened

• 
  Bombing Iran can destroy targets, not political memory

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Military damage can be measured quickly. Strategic success depends on whether force changes Tehran’s political calculations rather than reinforcing the meaning of resistance. New U.S. strikes on Iran in early September, among the most substantial exchanges since July, again put a familiar measure of wartime success at center stage: what was hit, destroyed, or disabled. But the harder question begins after the damage is counted. If the purpose of force is not merely to remove a target but to change Tehran’s behavior, then the real test is not “What was destroyed?” but “What changed?” That distinction matters especially in Iran. The country is not simply a collection of facilities, missiles, and command centers whose future can be judged by a

• 
  Houthis deny threat to Mecca from Yemen

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  A Houthi military source has “categorically denied any threat from Yemen targeting Mecca or other holy sites,” according to a statement carried by the movement’s Saba news agency. The source strongly condemned what it described as “fabrication, deception and misinformation” by the Saudi “enemy” in claiming that Yemen posed a threat to Mecca. The source said the promotion of what it called “false reports” was aimed at “smearing” the Houthis and creating sympathy across the Muslim world, describing it as an old tactic previously used by Saudi Arabia. The statement came after Saudi Civil Defence earlier on Wednesday issued alerts warning of a threat in Khamis Mushait, Abha, Taif, Mecca and Jeddah. Later, Civil Defence announced that the threat had

• 
  Malaysia vows action against shipments aiding Israel’s military

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Malaysia will take decisive action against shipments passing through its territory that support Israel’s military, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday. Ibrahim posted on X a report saying Malaysian authorities had seized shipments that were on their way to Israel. He said Malaysia’s position on the matter was “clear and unequivocal”, adding: “We will not allow our country to be used as a conduit for any shipment that supports or contributes to Israel’s military capabilities and its atrocities against Palestinians and other innocent lives.” He said any suspicious shipment would be inspected and investigated under Malaysian law, stressing: “Where a violation is established, decisive action will be taken.” Ibrahim said on 15 July that people holding Israeli citizenship alongside

• 
  Yemeni military source says Houthis dug trenches and laid mines near Bab al-Mandab

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Houthi forces have dug trenches in mountainous areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait and laid mines in the strategic maritime corridor, an unnamed Yemeni military source told the German Press Agency (DPA) on Tuesday. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said multiple trenches had been constructed in mountains overlooking and surrounding the strait, one of the world’s most important shipping routes. The source also alleged that Houthi forces had deployed a number of mines in the maritime corridor. The type, number and precise locations of the reported mines were not specified. According to the military source, the measures were intended to impede attempts by Yemeni government forces to retake territory captured by the Houthis during recent fighting. The

• 
  Israel Hayom report examines Iran’s religious and academic networks in Thailand amid anti-Israel protests

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Iran has spent years developing religious, educational and academic ties in Thailand that could provide Tehran with channels for influencing public discourse, including attitudes toward Israel, according to a report published by Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom. The report said Iran’s presence in Thailand extends beyond formal diplomatic relations and includes connections with religious centers, local clerics and educational institutions associated with the country’s Shia Muslim community. Among the institutions cited was Al-Mustafa International University, an Iran-based religious and academic institution with an international network. The newspaper stressed, however, that the existence of Iranian connections does not mean that all Shia religious or community activity in Thailand is linked to Tehran. According to the report, such networks have attracted increased attention

• 
  Likud and Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit clash over makeup of next Israeli government

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  A public dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit intensified on Tuesday over the potential composition of Israel’s next government. The latest exchange followed claims by Ben-Gvir’s party that Netanyahu could seek to bring former military chief Gadi Eisenkot into a future coalition at the expense of Otzma Yehudit, an assertion rejected by Likud. “Enough with the deception,” Likud said in a statement directed at Ben-Gvir, adding that Netanyahu had repeatedly said he intended to form the next government “based on the existing parties within the nationalist camp.” Likud urged Ben-Gvir to focus instead on preventing the formation of an alternative government involving Eisenkot, Yair Golan, Avigdor Lieberman and Arab parties.

• 
  Hamas calls for international investigation into violations revealed in ‘NAZA’ documentary

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Hamas on Tuesday called for an independent international investigation into Israeli military targeting practices in Gaza presented in the documentary “NAZA.” In a statement, Hamas said the film, which was screened at the Venice International Film Festival, included testimony from 24 Israeli military intelligence personnel and officers who had been involved in surveillance and targeting operations. According to Hamas, the testimonies provide details about procedures used to select and strike targets in Gaza and include accounts concerning anticipated civilian casualties. The movement said the documentary discusses the use of the term “NAZA” in relation to civilians expected to be killed in attacks and describes remote targeting and bombardment systems used during Israeli military operations. Hamas argued that testimony from individuals

• 
  Qatar says Israeli settler visits to Al-Aqsa risk fuelling regional tensions

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Qatar on Tuesday condemned repeated visits by Israeli settlers to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in Jerusalem, warning that the activity could contribute to heightened tensions and undermine efforts to maintain regional stability. In a statement, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it described as the “continued incursions by settlers” into the compound, including visits that took place on Tuesday under Israeli security protection. The ministry described the activity as an “unacceptable provocation to the sentiments of millions of Muslims around the world” and said it constituted a violation of international law and international humanitarian law. Qatar also reiterated its position that Al-Aqsa is a Muslim place of worship and rejected any unilateral measures it said were intended to alter

• 
  Israeli Settlers Steal Dozens of Grape Crates from Palestinian Farm Near Hebron

  by Marwa A on September 16, 2026

  Israeli settlers stole around 50 crates of grapes from a Palestinian farm east of Hebron in the occupied West Bank as Israeli soldiers and police were present at the scene, according to Palestinian media reports and video footage circulated on Tuesday. The footage, published on the digital platforms of the official Palestinian Voice of Palestine radio station, shows the Israeli settlers stealing crates of grapes from farmland and moving them onto a trailer attached to a vehicle. Voice of Palestine said the incident occurred in the Al-Buweira area, east of Hebron, and estimated that approximately 50 crates were taken. The footage also appears to show a four-wheel-drive vehicle leaving the area with the loaded trailer while Israeli security personnel are

• 
  US energy chief says Saudi pipeline operations to resume within days: Report

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Saudi Arabia’s key East-West crude oil pipeline is expected to resume operations “very soon,” US Energy Secretary Chris Wright told CNBC on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “This will be a brief and temporary interruption,” said Wright. “It will be measured in days.” The pipeline was shut down late last week after it was damaged in a drone strike originating from Iraq. Wright said Iran-backed proxy groups carried out the attack. Riyadh has used the pipeline to redirect crude oil exports toward the Red Sea amid the US-Iran struggle for control of the Strait of Hormuz. While the pipeline remains offline, Saudi Arabia is rerouting some oil shipments through Hormuz with support from the US military, according to Wright. US crude oil

• 
  UN ‘deeply concerned’ over Yemen internal displacement amid escalating hostilities

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  The UN on Tuesday expressed its deep concern over the situation in Yemen, as escalating hostilities have displaced more than 100,000 people and disrupted humanitarian operations, Anadolu reports. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric told a news conference that the UN’s relief chief Tom Fletcher “just released $9 million from the Central Emergency Relief Fund to provide urgent assistance to displaced families and to the communities receiving them.” Citing the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Dujarric said “the toll on civilians continues to grow, forcing families from their homes, killing and injuring those caught in the crossfire, and already stretched humanitarian operations are coming under growing pressure.” The UN Refugee Agency has warned that “rapidly escalating hostilities, especially on

• 
  Human Rights Watch, Amnesty urge EU to ban trade with Israeli settlements

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called on the EU on Tuesday to ban trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, urging European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to act on measures she proposed a year ago. In a joint statement ahead of von der Leyen’s annual State of the EU address, the groups said “almost none” of the measures she proposed last year had been adopted. They urged von der Leyen to revive her proposal to suspend the trade component of the EU-Israel Association Agreement and impose sanctions on Israeli officials and settlers, while also proposing an EU-wide ban on trade with Israeli settlements. The groups said the EU was “lagging behind” as an increasing

• 
  Germany’s Merz urges Iran not to carry conflict into Iraq, end Hormuz blockade

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Iran on Tuesday to stop its destabilizing activities in the region and to not extend the conflict into Iraq through its proxies, Anadolu reports. Speaking at a joint news conference with Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi in Berlin, Merz said the two leaders discussed regional developments, including the impact of the US-Iran war and the Hormuz blockade. “Tehran’s support for proxies across the region must cease. We see the consequences each day; we also call on Iran not to carry the conflict further into Iraq,” Merz said. “Iran must finally end this blockade in the Strait of Hormuz; above all, it must halt its military nuclear program,” he stressed. Merz said Berlin backs the Iraqi

• 
  Longtime Palestine advocate Liam Cunningham criticises Ed Sheeran over Macklemore’s removal from tour

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Irish actor and longtime Palestine advocate Liam Cunningham criticised Ed Sheeran after rapper Macklemore was removed from the remaining US dates of the British singer’s Loop Tour, Anadolu reports. “We know who Ed Sheeran is now,” the Game of Thrones star, wrote on X. In a subsequent post that did not mention Sheeran by name, Cunningham rejected claims of neutrality over Israel’s war on Gaza. “If you find yourself saying ‘I’m not taking sides’ during a genocide, you are. You most definitely are,” he wrote. The posts were the latest expression of Cunningham’s long-standing support for Palestinians. The actor said in April 2024 that he had participated in Palestine solidarity campaigns for “30 to 40 years” and criticised public figures

• 
  Israeli fire kills 4 Palestinians, injures others in latest Gaza ceasefire violations

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Four Palestinians were killed and several others injured in separate Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, in the latest violations of an ongoing ceasefire agreement, medics said, Anadolu reports. A medical source told Anadolu that two Palestinians were killed in a double Israeli strike on the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in northwestern Gaza City. Several other people, including a child, were injured in the attack. Eyewitnesses said an Israeli drone struck a gathering of civilians in Sheikh Radwan, before carrying out a second strike targeting civilians who had rushed to rescue those wounded in the first attack. Another medical source said that a 65-year-old man was killed by Israeli gunfire targeting a camp sheltering displaced people east of Jabalia

• 
  Libya suspends production operations at 3 oil sites following closure of major pipeline

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Libya’s National Oil Corporation announced Tuesday that production and operations at three oil sites were suspended after members of the Petroleum Facilities Guards closed the valve on the Al-Hamada–Zawiya shipping pipeline in western Libya, Anadolu reports. The Petroleum Facilities Guard is a state-affiliated security force tasked with protecting Libya’s critical energy infrastructure. In a statement, Libya’s National Oil Corporation said the closure caused a sudden increase in pressure along the production lines, resulting in the suspension of operations at the three sites. The corporation warned that it could be forced to declare “force majeure” if the valve remains closed or if other fields face similar shutdowns. Prolonged field closures would hurt the national economy and threaten the state’s ability to

• 
  UN rights chief says Israeli bulldozers continue levelling Gaza ‘with no respect for the dead’

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  The UN human rights chief said on Tuesday that many areas in Gaza continue to be levelled by Israeli bulldozers, criticizing the lack of respect for the dead under the rubble, Anadolu reports. “Much of Gaza has been flattened by Israeli bombing or demolition and clearing by heavy machinery and explosives. Today, many areas in Gaza where the Israeli military is deployed continue to be levelled by bulldozers with no respect for the dead under the rubble,” Volker Turk said in a written statement. While underlining that the remains of “what appears to be entire families” are being unearthed, he voiced concern that what is being uncovered “may only be the tip of the iceberg.” Turk stressed the need to preserve

• 
  ‘In accordance with international law’ guarantees Israel’s impunity

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Praising the bare minimum in terms of statements in support of Palestine has long been treated like a diplomatic breakthrough. BRICS’s New Delhi Declaration was no exception. Following the 18th  summit held in Delhi, BRICS referenced Palestine in its statement among many other political concerns and reiterated all the rhetoric largely associated with the UN. However, despite the trajectory from the 1947 UN Partition Plan to genocide in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry praised BRICS for its “positions and reaffirmations in support of the Palestinian cause.” In accordance with international law, of course, even though international law has not yet once been implemented to protect the colonised from the coloniser.  According to WAFA news agency, the PA’s Foreign Ministry

• 
  UN says West Bank women face heightened risks amid violence, restrictions

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Women and girls in the occupied West Bank face heightened risks of violence, displacement, and movement restrictions, according to a new analysis by UN Women released Tuesday, Anadolu reports. The analysis found that about 83,200 households in the West Bank are headed by women, while 40% of women-headed households reported being displaced from their original homes, compared with 30% of male-headed households. Sofia Calltorp, UN Women’s chief of humanitarian action, said women who suddenly become responsible for their households face difficulties securing income, humanitarian assistance, and basic needs. “Women who suddenly find themselves heading households must earn an income, secure assistance and protect their families under extremely difficult conditions,” Calltorp said. The analysis found that 57% of women heading households

• 
  Israeli wars may cost Lebanon over $27B, prime minister says

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said Tuesday that the economic cost of Israel’s wars on Lebanon since 2023 may exceed $27 billion, stressing that reconstruction is beyond the state’s current capacity and requires Arab and international funding, Anadolu reports. “We must also be frank with the Lebanese people: the scale of destruction is far greater than the state’s capacity,” Salam said in an address to parliament during a general debate on government policies. “Therefore, reconstruction and recovery require, alongside state resources, Arab and international support and major external funding,” he added. Salam linked obtaining funding to restoring trust and carrying out reforms. “There can be no sustainable reconstruction without funding, no funding without trust, and no trust without a capable state.

• 
  9/11 at 25 — Why Israel Fuels Islamophobia | Palestine This Week

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  In this episode we speak to Muhammed Shehada about his clash with the Board of Peace and his concern that it is burying evidence of genocide in Gaza. We unpack revelations in the Haaretz that Benjamin Netanyahu was warned in advance of the 7 October attack. Marking twenty-five years since 9/11, we look at how the War on Terror emboldened Israel, and at the rise in Islamophobia since — fuelled by Israel-linked groups working in alliance with the far right. We close on Britain’s sanctions against Israeli settlement products, the ferocity of the backlash, and how easily measures like this can be circumvented.     WATCH: Israel’s Campaign Trail Runs on Cruelty Towards Palestinians | Palestine This Week

• 
  Palestinian president arrives in Egypt for 2-day official visit

  by Marwa A on September 15, 2026

  Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a two-day official visit to Egypt, the Palestinian news agency Wafa reported, Anadolu reports. Abbas was received at Cairo International Airport by Egyptian Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk and several Egyptian and Palestinian officials. He is scheduled to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments concerning the Palestinian cause as well as Arab and international issues of common interest. The talks are also expected to address Egyptian-led efforts, in coordination with regional and international partners, to provide humanitarian assistance to Palestinians and support the reconstruction of areas devastated by the ongoing war, Wafa said. The visit comes as Cairo steps up diplomatic contacts over regional

• 
  Syrian president says lifting sanctions opened door to investment, economic recovery

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa stated on Tuesday that Syria was “born again” after sanctions against the country were lifted, saying their removal opened the way for economic recovery, foreign investment and a stronger regional role, Anadolu reports. Speaking at the Arab Media Summit 2026 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Sharaa said Syria had faced an exceptionally extensive sanctions regime, with some restrictions dating back to 1979, leaving generations unfamiliar with international financial transactions and banking guarantees. He said mediation efforts involving Arab and regional leaders, as well as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in contact with US President Donald Trump, contributed to what he described as a “historic decision” to lift the sanctions. “I believe Syria was born again after

• 
  Saudi Arabia issues emergency alerts over ‘potential danger’ in Jeddah, Mecca, Taif

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Saudi Arabia issued emergency alerts Tuesday warning of a “potential danger” in Jeddah, Mecca and Taif in the country’s west, urging residents to seek shelter and follow official safety instructions, Anadolu reports. The alerts were issued through the National Early Warning Platform for Emergencies, according to the Saudi Civil Defense. Authorities did not specify the nature of the potential danger. Residents were urged to remain calm and immediately move to the nearest safe place, preferably inside a building or an interior room away from windows, and remain there until the danger passes. READ: Satellite images show damage to Saudi fuel depot, military site after Houthi attacks The Civil Defense also advised people to stay away from open areas, windows, balconies and rooftops,

• 
  Is Saudi Arabia turning to Israel for help against Houthi attacks despite its new defence pact?

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Recent reporting says yes — at least on the intelligence front. Diplomatic sources cited separately by Israel Hayom, Walla, and The Jerusalem Post say Riyadh has sought intelligence assistance from Israel through U.S. Central Command as Houthi forces advance along the Red Sea coast, seize strategic islands including Perim, and strike Saudi cities, airbases, and oil infrastructure. Reuters, citing three sources familiar with the matter, separately reported that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has appealed to Washington directly for military assistance. Neither Riyadh nor Jerusalem has confirmed either report on the record. It’s worth being precise about scope: the reporting describes intelligence-sharing and threat-mapping support, not Israeli military intervention, airstrikes, or a troop presence. That distinction matters. A request for

• 
  Gaza dentists protest shortage of dental supplies caused by Israeli restrictions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Dentists in the Gaza Strip staged a protest on Tuesday, warning that dental treatment services could come to a complete halt due to severe shortages of essential medical supplies, which they said Israel has prevented from entering the territory, Anadolu reports. Gathering outside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) building in Gaza City, dentists called for the entry of materials used for fillings, root canal procedures, anesthesia and other essential treatments. Mohammed Khashku, a representative of the Gaza Strip Dentists Association, said shortages had already forced some clinics and medical centers to close, while others were operating with extremely limited supplies. Dentist Suheir Mahmoud said many patients could no longer receive necessary treatment because essential materials were unavailable. She

• 
  China urges diplomatic end to Iran war as US admits ammunition shortages

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  China on Tuesday called for political and diplomatic solutions to the US-Iran war after the Pentagon inspector general reported ammunition shortages caused by the conflict, Anadolu reports. Beijing is “following the situation in the Middle East and Gulf region,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun told a regular news conference. “We hope relevant parties will solve disputes through political and diplomatic means,” he added. Guo was responding to the first report by the Pentagon inspector general, which found that munitions used during the four-month US war with Iran caused “strategic inventory shortfalls” and exposed bottlenecks in the defense industrial base. The report said expanding production requires “significant lead time,” with key bottlenecks, including solid rocket motors, high-grade explosives and propellants, and

• 
  US airmen faced 1,200 alert conditions during Operation Epic Fury

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  US Air Force personnel supporting Operation Epic Fury in the Middle East weathered 1,200 “Alarm Red” conditions amid Iranian missile and drone attacks, completed 48 runway repairs, and conducted more than 400 unexploded ordnance sweeps, a senior military official said Monday, Anadolu reports. The operation will be studied for its scale, precision and speed, Gen. Ken Wilsbach, chief of staff of the Air Force, said at the Air, Space and Cyber Conference. He noted that in over 38 days of combat missions, the Joint Force hit more than 13,000 military targets. A fleet of 500 aircraft executed 10,000 sorties, maintaining a daily tempo of more than 250 flights, while personnel managed emergency repairs and conducted more than 420 reportable ordnance disposal

• 
  Iran says 2 MQ-1 drones intercepted near Strait of Hormuz amid US tensions

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said Tuesday that two MQ-1 drones were intercepted and “destroyed” near the Strait of Hormuz, marking the fourth such drone it says it has downed in recent days, Anadolu reports. The IRGC said the drone was shot down east of the waterway by a newly deployed advanced air defense system operated by its Aerospace Force under Iran’s integrated air defense network. Earlier Tuesday, the IRGC said that it intercepted an MQ-1 drone west of the Strait of Hormuz, without providing details on its operator or the exact location of the incident. READ: Iranian body lists 77 vessels for violating Tehran’s Strait of Hormuz protocols It came a day after the IRGC said that it had

• 
  Israeli opposition seeks to bar Ben-Gvir’s party from Knesset election

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Israel’s opposition Democrats party asked the Central Elections Committee on Monday to disqualify the Jewish Power party, led by extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, from the Oct. 27 general election, citing incitement to racism, Anadolu reports. The petition also accused the party of undermining democracy, the rule of law and judicial authority, according to Israel’s Channel 12. The Democrats said Kahanist lawmakers had used political power and parliamentary immunity to defy court orders, challenge the Supreme Court’s authority and incite “violent racism.” READ: Italian opposition slams government for not joining sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements The committee has yet to rule on the request. Ben-Gvir rejected the move and accused Yair Golan’s Democrats of being “anti-Semitic” and “anti-Israel.” The petition

• 
  Iranian strikes cause $184m damage to US Gulf facilities

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  Iranian strikes caused an estimated $184 million in damage to US diplomatic facilities in four Gulf countries, according to a Pentagon inspector general’s report. The report, published by The Hill, said the damage affected US facilities in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is the first report issued by the inspector general’s office since the United States and Israel launched the war in late February. Iraq suffered the most damage, at more than $157 million, followed by Kuwait with more than $14 million and Saudi Arabia with about $11.5 million. Damage to the US diplomatic facility in the UAE was estimated at about $125,000. The US mission in Iraq also came under more than 600 Iranian attacks. READ: Iran

• 
  Trump says he is ‘open’ to engaging with Iran

  by Mehdi Editor on September 15, 2026

  US President Donald Trump reiterated on Monday that he was “open” to engaging with Iran to end the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in February. “The failing Nation of Iran wants to make a deal, quickly and badly. I will determine whether or not the USA will choose to engage — The concept of which we are open to,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said on Monday that it had shot down an advanced US MQ-1 drone over the Strait of Hormuz, as diplomatic efforts faced a setback with the postponement of a meeting between Iran and Gulf states. READ: Trump says Iran wants deal with US ‘quickly and badly’