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

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  Over 400 artists join cultural boycott of Israel over Gaza war

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  More than 400 international artists have joined a new cultural initiative calling for their music to be removed from Israeli digital streaming platforms, in protest against what they describe as...

  Over 400 artists join cultural boycott of Israel over Gaza war

  

  More than 400 international artists have joined a new cultural initiative calling for their music to be removed from Israeli digital streaming platforms, in protest against what they describe as ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Hebrew daily Haaretz reported on Thursday that the artists signed a petition under the campaign title No Music for Genocide.  The petition urges the withdrawal of their work from Israeli platforms in response to the war in Gaza. The list includes prominent names such as British band Massive Attack, Scottish group Primal Scream, and American indie act Japanese Breakfast, as well as US singer-songwriter Carole King, Japanese pop star Rina Sawayama, and Danish artist MO. In a statement on Thursday, the organisers said
• Naim: No negotiations while Israel expands military operations in Gaza

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  Bassem Naim, a senior official in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that Israel had been misleading everyone by pretending to engage in negotiations in order to cover up its...

  Naim: No negotiations while Israel expands military operations in Gaza

  

  Bassem Naim, a senior official in the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said that Israel had been misleading everyone by pretending to engage in negotiations in order to cover up its crimes and plans. Speaking to Alaraby TV on Thursday, Naim stressed that Israel’s military operation in Gaza City would face fierce resistance. He warned: “What happens to our people during the assault on Gaza City will also affect the Israeli prisoners.” Naim made clear that negotiations could not take place while Israel was expanding its military operations in Gaza.  He added: “We affirm Qatar’s position that continuing aggression makes negotiations pointless.” He also pointed out that the administration of the US president Donald Trump adopted the vision of the Israeli
• The NAM reborn: Non-Aligned monarchies and Pakistan’s mercenary generals

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  There are few spectacles as grotesque as Gaza under bombardment. But if anything can compete with it in sheer offensiveness, it is the sight of Pakistani generals dusting off their...

  The NAM reborn: Non-Aligned monarchies and Pakistan’s mercenary generals

  

  There are few spectacles as grotesque as Gaza under bombardment. But if anything can compete with it in sheer offensiveness, it is the sight of Pakistani generals dusting off their medals, tightening their waistlines, and flying off to Riyadh like underpaid mall cops called in to protect a billionaire’s parking lot. One is a tragedy. The other is a parody. And together they form the sick theater of our time: genocide on one side, and groveling cowardice on the other. From 1947 onward, Pakistan’s generals have never actually wanted independence. Independence is messy, it requires responsibility, it forces you to govern. Much easier, they decided, to subcontract themselves to whoever offered the best deal: Washington, Riyadh, or Abu Dhabi. The
• US Senate launches historic initiative to recognise Palestinian State

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  For the first time in the United States Senate, Democratic senators have introduced a bill urging President Trump to recognise a demilitarised Palestinian state. The bill, led by Senator Jeff...

  US Senate launches historic initiative to recognise Palestinian State

  

  For the first time in the United States Senate, Democratic senators have introduced a bill urging President Trump to recognise a demilitarised Palestinian state. The bill, led by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, is non-binding and unlikely to pass due to Republican control and growing opposition to the two-state solution. The five senators who signed the bill said the move aims to send a message ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and to increase pressure on the US administration to help Gaza. READ: Illinois governor backs Senate push to block US arms sales to Israel
• Israel’s Doha strike kills diplomacy – and US credibility with it

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  The smoke that rose over Doha this week was more than the aftermath of an airstrike. It marked three things at once: the death of mediation, the collapse of U.S....

  Israel’s Doha strike kills diplomacy – and US credibility with it

  

  The smoke that rose over Doha this week was more than the aftermath of an airstrike. It marked three things at once: the death of mediation, the collapse of U.S. credibility, and growing danger for the remaining Israeli hostages. Israel’s decision to bomb Doha, America’s closest Gulf ally and one of the main mediators in Gaza ceasefire talks, was unprecedented. Five Hamas officials and a Qatari security officer were killed. But the true significance lies not in the casualties, but in what this strike destroyed: the framework of diplomacy itself. Qatar condemned the strike as “cowardly” and a “flagrant violation of international law,” with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman warning it had dragged the region to a place “where
• Smotrich threatens Netanyahu with dismantling Palestinian Authority if West Bank annexation stalls

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with moves to dismantle the Palestinian Authority if Israel does not impose sovereignty over the occupied West Bank....

  Smotrich threatens Netanyahu with dismantling Palestinian Authority if West Bank annexation stalls

  

  Israeli far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with moves to dismantle the Palestinian Authority if Israel does not impose sovereignty over the occupied West Bank. Israel’s Channel 12 quoted Smotrich as telling Netanyahu: “I will work to bring down the Palestinian Authority if sovereignty is not applied to the West Bank.” Earlier, Smotrich unveiled a proposal to annex around 82 per cent of the West Bank. The plan is based on detailed maps prepared in recent months by the settlement directorate of Israel’s Ministry of Defence, highlighting targeted areas and mechanisms for implementing the project. Smotrich represents one of the most extreme right-wing currents in Israel. He has previously called for “erasing entire Palestinian towns
• Italian port refuses to load containers of explosives bound for Israel

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  The Italian port of Ravenna on Thursday refused to load two containers filled with explosives for shipment to Israel, following a request by local authorities, according to a statement issued...

  Italian port refuses to load containers of explosives bound for Israel

  

  The Italian port of Ravenna on Thursday refused to load two containers filled with explosives for shipment to Israel, following a request by local authorities, according to a statement issued by the city’s municipality. Ravenna’s mayor, Alessandro Barattoni, said in a statement:  “Thanks to courageous dockers, we were informed last night of the scheduled arrival today of two containers to the Ravenna port”  Ravenna, along with provincial leaders and the regional Emilia-Romagna government, are shareholders in the port, which allowed them to block the shipment.  “You must choose a side, and Emilia-Romagna and Ravenna know perfectly which: the one of innocent victims and hostages, and not the one of criminal governments and terrorist organisations,” the regional leaders said in a
• Is the Pak-Saudi defence pact a turning point in the history of the Middle East?

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  For many decades, the Middle East region has been inflicted by a cycle of wars; one after the other countries have been invaded, destroyed and economically weakened. For all intents...

  Is the Pak-Saudi defence pact a turning point in the history of the Middle East?

  

  For many decades, the Middle East region has been inflicted by a cycle of wars; one after the other countries have been invaded, destroyed and economically weakened. For all intents and purposes the Middle East has become a battleground for world powers that are least concerned about its peace but more interested in its natural resources.   Following the Israeli strike on Doha, the Arab Gulf states are growing increasingly uncertain about the “US reliability.” A report published in The Times of Israel reveals that “Netanyahu told Trump about the Doha strike in advance,” though Trump denied it. The point is that Israel enjoys America’s unconditional backing and support. Correspondingly, at this significant juncture, all eyes are focused on the “Greater Israel” project which
• UNRWA chief: Denial of famine in Gaza is part of deliberate disinformation campaign

  by MI on September 19, 2025

  The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said on Thursday that Gaza has become a battleground of a fierce and rampant...

  UNRWA chief: Denial of famine in Gaza is part of deliberate disinformation campaign

  

  The Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini, said on Thursday that Gaza has become a battleground of a fierce and rampant information war. Lazzarini stressed that, “Dis-information continues to be used as a tool to distract from the atrocities in the war-torn enclave On the UNRWA official site, Lazzarini explained that “UNRWA was the first to be targeted, followed by other UN agencies, media outlets, and health institutions”. He noted that the latest example was the denial of famine in Gaza and the disregard of the findings of the UN’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry, which concluded this week that Israel committed genocide against Palestinians.  According to Lazzarini, such denial aims
• UN special envoy for Syria announces resignation

  by Marwa A on September 18, 2025

  The UN’s special representative for Syria, Geir Pedersen, announced Thursday his resignation from the post where he served for over half a decade through a civil war that only ended...

  UN special envoy for Syria announces resignation

  

  The UN’s special representative for Syria, Geir Pedersen, announced Thursday his resignation from the post where he served for over half a decade through a civil war that only ended late last year, Anadolu reports. “I wish to let the council know that I have informed the secretary general on my intention to step down after more than six-and-a-half years serving as United Nations Special Envoy for Syria, and he has graciously accepted my request,” Pedersen told the UN Security Council after a session on Syria. Hailing the Syrian people for their “extraordinary courage and humanity” throughout the crisis, Pedersen said: “It has been my intention for quite some time to move on for personal reasons after a long period
• 4 Israeli troops killed in Rafah bomb explosion, army says

  by Marwa A on September 18, 2025

  Four Israeli troops were killed in a bomb explosion in southern Gaza, the army confirmed on Thursday, Anadolu reports. A military statement said an officer and three soldiers were killed...

  4 Israeli troops killed in Rafah bomb explosion, army says

  

  Four Israeli troops were killed in a bomb explosion in southern Gaza, the army confirmed on Thursday, Anadolu reports. A military statement said an officer and three soldiers were killed when a roadside bomb exploded in Rafah city. The army said the dead troops served with the Dekel Battalion, adding that three other soldiers, who were cadets and posthumously promoted to lieutenant, were also injured in the blast. READ: Israeli army launches fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon
• Pope Leo highlights grave humanitarian situation in Gaza despite US pressure on Israel

  by Marwa A on September 18, 2025

  Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, criticizing the lack of effective measures to alleviate the suffering of civilians despite pressure on Israel from...

  Pope Leo highlights grave humanitarian situation in Gaza despite US pressure on Israel

  

  Pope Leo XIV expressed deep concern over the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, criticizing the lack of effective measures to alleviate the suffering of civilians despite pressure on Israel from the United States, Anadolu reports. “Even though there has been some pressure on Israel from the United States, and despite some very clear statements recently from President Trump, there has not been a clear response in terms of finding effective ways to alleviate the suffering of the people, the innocent people in Gaza, and that is obviously of great concern,” the pope said in an interview with Penguin Peru published Thursday. The pope highlighted the urgent needs of Gazans, particularly children, emphasizing the requirement for medical assistance and humanitarian aid
• Gulf bloc approves new defense steps after Israeli strike on Qatar

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Defense ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced a package of steps on Thursday to strengthen collective security after Israel’s Sept. 9 airstrike on Qatar, Anadolu reports. In a...

  Gulf bloc approves new defense steps after Israeli strike on Qatar

  

  Defense ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced a package of steps on Thursday to strengthen collective security after Israel’s Sept. 9 airstrike on Qatar, Anadolu reports. In a joint statement, the Gulf Joint Defense Council said members agreed to step up intelligence sharing through the Unified Military Command, provide a common air operations picture across the Gulf, and accelerate work on a joint ballistic missile early warning system. The ministers, meeting in Doha, also endorsed updating joint defense plans, holding coordination drills between operations and air defense centers within three months, and conducting a large-scale aerial exercise. They pledged to link national defense systems more closely to counter “any potential threats or acts of aggression.” Chaired by Qatari
• Gaza cut off as Israel maintains 2nd day of communications blackout

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  For a second straight day on Thursday, residents of Gaza City were left without internet or landline service as Israeli attacks knocked out major infrastructure routes, deepening the enclave’s isolation...

  Gaza cut off as Israel maintains 2nd day of communications blackout

  

  For a second straight day on Thursday, residents of Gaza City were left without internet or landline service as Israeli attacks knocked out major infrastructure routes, deepening the enclave’s isolation under an ongoing military campaign, Anadolu reports. The Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority confirmed that fixed-line and internet networks collapsed in Gaza City and parts of the north on Wednesday after key cables and facilities were damaged. Such blackouts, which paralyze hospitals, civil defense teams and humanitarian aid operations, have become a defining feature of Israel’s war on Gaza. Rights groups warn they are not accidental but part of a deliberate policy to silence the enclave and obstruct outside scrutiny. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor has tracked more than a dozen
• Israeli army launches fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon

  by Marwa A on September 18, 2025

  Israeli warplanes staged a wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, in the latest violation of last year’s ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the strikes targeted...

  Israeli army launches fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon

  

  Israeli warplanes staged a wave of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Thursday, in the latest violation of last year’s ceasefire agreement, Anadolu reports. A military statement said the strikes targeted what the army claimed were Hezbollah military targets in southern Lebanon. The attacks came shortly after the army ordered residents of the towns of Meiss al-Jabal, Kfar Tibnit, and Debbin in Nabatieh to evacuate their homes. Lebanon’s state news agency NNA confirmed that an airstrike hit Meiss al-Jabal, without giving details about casualties or damage. READ: Lebanon begins 4th phase of Palestinian camp disarmament plan
• Clear conclusions: A UN commission finds Israel responsible for genocide in Gaza

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Yet another blistering addition to the ghoulish accounts of cruelty regarding the ongoing actions of Israel in Gaza made its appearance on September 16.  It came in the form of...

  Clear conclusions: A UN commission finds Israel responsible for genocide in Gaza

  

  Yet another blistering addition to the ghoulish accounts of cruelty regarding the ongoing actions of Israel in Gaza made its appearance on September 16.  It came in the form of a report by the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, a lashing publication finding Israel guilty of committing genocide on the Strip.  Of the five elements outlined in the 1948 Genocide Convention, Israel was found guilty of four.  (The state’s interest in transferring Palestinian children from one group to another is yet to show itself.)  The relevant acts outlined in the report include instances of killing, causing serious bodily or mental harm, the deliberate infliction of conditions of life calculated to bring about physical
• Former Israeli captive accuses Netanyahu of ordering death of hostages in Gaza

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  A former Israeli captive accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of giving an order to kill the hostages held in Gaza by pressing ahead with a plan to occupy...

  Former Israeli captive accuses Netanyahu of ordering death of hostages in Gaza

  

  A former Israeli captive accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday of giving an order to kill the hostages held in Gaza by pressing ahead with a plan to occupy Gaza City, Anadolu reports. Ilana Gritzovsky, released under a truce in November 2023, told Army Radio that Netanyahu’s decision meant “giving the order to kill the hostages.” Her partner, soldier Matan Zangauker, is still held in Gaza. “How many families must be thrown into grief before he listens to the public outcry?” she asked, adding that she longs to return to a normal life and to marry Zangauker once he is back. Gritzovsky said she cannot work amid expanding military operations. “I know what captives endure. With every plane overhead
• EU moves to end complicity in Gaza genocide, proposes trade freeze with Israel

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  EU Commission calls for freezing of free trade with Israel over Gaza genocide. The move targets Israeli ministers, €68bn ($72.5bn) trade agreement, amid mounting calls to end complicity Israel’s war...

  EU moves to end complicity in Gaza genocide, proposes trade freeze with Israel

  

  EU Commission calls for freezing of free trade with Israel over Gaza genocide. The move targets Israeli ministers, €68bn ($72.5bn) trade agreement, amid mounting calls to end complicity Israel’s war of annihilation. The European Commission has called for the suspension of Israel’s preferential trade status with the EU, citing the unfolding genocide in Gaza and mounting evidence of war crimes. The proposal, if adopted, would represent the most serious breach in EU-Israel relations since the signing of the Association Agreement in 2000. “The horrific events taking place in Gaza on a daily basis must stop,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen yesterday. “There needs to be an immediate ceasefire, unrestrained access for all humanitarian aid, and the release
• ‘The intent is clear’: Bernie Sanders says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  “No more genocide” says Bernie Sanders who becomes first US senator to declare Israel is committing a campaign of extermination in Gaza. The Vermont senator had previously avoided the term,...

  ‘The intent is clear’: Bernie Sanders says Israel is committing genocide in Gaza

  

  “No more genocide” says Bernie Sanders who becomes first US senator to declare Israel is committing a campaign of extermination in Gaza. The Vermont senator had previously avoided the term, now joins chorus of experts and UN panel in stating Israel’s intent to carry out a genocide of the Palestinian people. Sanders issued a statement on his official Senate website yesterday declaring his position. “The intent is clear. The conclusion is inescapable: Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.” The veteran Vermont senator, long known for his cautious criticism of Israeli policy, had previously said the term made him “queasy.” Now, citing overwhelming evidence from international experts and rights groups, Sanders has not only embraced the word but demanded an end
• Will Eurovision uphold Israel’s colonial genocide?

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland have declared their intention to not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to take part. In response, Eurovision’s director...

  Will Eurovision uphold Israel’s colonial genocide?

  

  Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland have declared their intention to not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to take part. In response, Eurovision’s director Martin Green issued a weak statement that can only be classified as impunity for Israel. “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East,” Green stated. “It is up to each member to decide to take part in the contest, and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.” The statement completely misses the point. Five countries have declared they will not participate in the contest if Israel takes part, because Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. This not an opinion, but a stance.
• IOM says at least 50 dead after vessel carrying Sudanese refugees caught fire off Libya

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday that at least 50 people had died after a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire off Libya’s coast on Sunday,...

  IOM says at least 50 dead after vessel carrying Sudanese refugees caught fire off Libya

  

  The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Tuesday that at least 50 people had died after a vessel carrying 75 Sudanese refugees caught fire off Libya’s coast on Sunday, Reuters reported. The IOM said it had provided medical support to 24 survivors. According to the IOM, 456 people have died off the coast of Libya since the start of this year while attempting the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean. The agency described the central Mediterranean as “the world’s most dangerous migration route”, citing increasingly ruthless trafficking practices, limited rescue capacity, and mounting restrictions on humanitarian operations as key factors driving the high death toll. Libya has become a transit route for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty to Europe across
• From cold peace to open tensions: Egypt-Israel relations tested

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s recent description of Israel as an “enemy” at the Doha summit marked a clear fracture in relations between the two countries, which had maintained a...

  From cold peace to open tensions: Egypt-Israel relations tested

  

  Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s recent description of Israel as an “enemy” at the Doha summit marked a clear fracture in relations between the two countries, which had maintained a workable relationship for nearly half a century. Tensions have been mounting, particularly since the Gaza war that began about two years ago. Although the peace has always been a “cold peace” throughout its 46 years, Israel has consistently remained Egypt’s primary threat, and the Egyptian public has never truly accepted normalisation with Israel. Yet, security and trade ties between the two states grew steadily under American arrangements and pressure in the region. The pressing question today is how long this relationship can remain stable in light of long standing channels
• US labels four Iraqi factions as “terrorist groups” in escalation against Iran-aligned militias

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  The US State Department on Wednesday formally designated four Iraqi factions as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), escalating its campaign against groups it accuses of aligning with Iran. The groups named are Harakat...

  US labels four Iraqi factions as “terrorist groups” in escalation against Iran-aligned militias

  

  The US State Department on Wednesday formally designated four Iraqi factions as Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs), escalating its campaign against groups it accuses of aligning with Iran. The groups named are Harakat al-Nujaba, Kata’ib Sayyid al-Shuhada, Harakat Ansar Allah al-Awfiya, and Kata’ib Imam Ali. All four had previously been blacklisted as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, but the new designation carries harsher restrictions and broader implications. In its statement, the State Department claimed the militias “conduct attacks against US personnel and facilities,” including strikes on the US embassy in Baghdad and bases hosting American and coalition troops. Washington alleges the groups often operate under pseudonyms or front organisations to obscure their role. Framing the move as part of its maximum-pressure campaign, the department said the designations
• Genocide in Gaza and the New York Declaration: A verdict without teeth?

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  The UN Human Rights experts concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Days earlier, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed Palestinian statehood, with 142 nations in favour. Together, these...

  Genocide in Gaza and the New York Declaration: A verdict without teeth?

  

  The UN Human Rights experts concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Days earlier, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed Palestinian statehood, with 142 nations in favour. Together, these developments deliver a verdict: the world now formally recognises both the destruction of Gaza as genocidal and the denial of Palestinian sovereignty as untenable. What remains in doubt is whether the institutions that made these declarations have the will — or the power — to act. Gaza’s devastation For more than seven decades, Palestinians have endured dispossession, occupation, and repeated military assaults. Since October 2023, the scale of destruction has been intensified. Nearly 65,000 people have been killed, entire neighbourhoods reduced to rubble, hospitals dismantled, and water and sanitation systems
• Israel’s Smotrich calls devastated Gaza Strip a potential real estate “bonanza”

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday said that the devastated Gaza Strip was a potential real estate “bonanza” and that he was in talks with the United States on...

  Israel’s Smotrich calls devastated Gaza Strip a potential real estate “bonanza”

  

  Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Wednesday said that the devastated Gaza Strip was a potential real estate “bonanza” and that he was in talks with the United States on how to divide up the coastal enclave after the war. “There is enormous real estate wealth in Gaza, and we will share it with the Americans,” Smotrich said at the Urban Regeneration Summit of the Real Estate Center in Tel Aviv. When asked about the possibility of establishing Israeli settlements in Gaza, Smotrich replied that “a business plan prepared by experts is already on the table of US President Donald Trump.” He added: “We have completed the demolition phase, and now we must build.” Smotrich further stated: “We paid a
• Calibrating power: A people-first US approach to the Middle East

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Foreign policy is not abstract for most Americans. It arrives as an unexpected deployment that rearranges a family’s year, a quiet chair at the dinner table, a neighbour back from...

  Calibrating power: A people-first US approach to the Middle East

  

  Foreign policy is not abstract for most Americans. It arrives as an unexpected deployment that rearranges a family’s year, a quiet chair at the dinner table, a neighbour back from overseas who smiles yet startles and city budgets that delay the library roof because resources flowed elsewhere. For too long Washington has reached for military tools when steadier instruments — patient diplomacy, shared problem solving and real coalition work — could have advanced US interests more effectively at far lower human cost. This is not a rebuke of those who serve. It is a call for discipline about when and why we ask them to risk everything. A credible approach begins with evidence that has been stress tested, presented clearly
• Spain threatens to withdraw from 2026 World Cup if Israel qualifies

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Spanish officials have raised the prospect of withdrawing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, if Israel takes part in the...

  Spain threatens to withdraw from 2026 World Cup if Israel qualifies

  

  Spanish officials have raised the prospect of withdrawing from the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, if Israel takes part in the tournament. The Spanish sports daily Marca reported Wednesday that Patxi López, spokesman for the Socialist Group in Congress, left open the possibility of a boycott. His remarks came after a plenary session of Parliament, in response to questions about ongoing protests against Israel’s actions in Gaza. López drew a direct link between Spain’s sporting commitments and its political stance, stating: “Israel is now invading the Gaza Strip by land, and this requires a response. The vast majority of Spanish society cannot tolerate the images we see daily in every newscast,
• Hamas criticises US role in Gaza ceasefire talks as biased towards Israel

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  A senior Hamas official, Ghazi Hamad, on Wednesday accused the United States of siding with Israel in discussions over a potential ceasefire in Gaza, describing the movement’s experience with Washington...

  Hamas criticises US role in Gaza ceasefire talks as biased towards Israel

  

  A senior Hamas official, Ghazi Hamad, on Wednesday accused the United States of siding with Israel in discussions over a potential ceasefire in Gaza, describing the movement’s experience with Washington as “bitter.” Hamad made the remarks in an interview with Al Jazeera, marking the first public appearance of a Hamas leader since the Israeli strike on Doha on 9 September. “Our experience with the US administration as mediators has been bitter. We engaged for a long time with their proposals, particularly with the American envoy, Steve Witkoff,” Hamad said, according to statements, which were reported by the movement’s official platforms. He added: “The US administration made two major mistakes. First, it lacked credibility. Every time we engaged with them, they
• 137,000 Israelis leave the country in two years

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics has reported that more than 137,000 Israelis left the country over the past two years, almost twice the number of new arrivals. The data shows...

  137,000 Israelis leave the country in two years

  

  Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics has reported that more than 137,000 Israelis left the country over the past two years, almost twice the number of new arrivals. The data shows that more than 82,000 Israelis left last year, while 31,000 arrived. In 2023, about 55,000 Israelis left, compared with 46,000 who arrived. According to the bureau’s data, Israel’s population on the eve of the Jewish New Year exceeded 10 million. Population growth in the past Hebrew year was recorded at 1.2 per cent, down from 1.6 per cent the year before. The statistical report noted that 21.4 per cent of Israel’s population are Palestinians from the occupied territories of 1948, while 78.6 per cent are Jews or others. The number
• You can’t see the forest for the trees: How the Oslo Accords became Israel’s greatest strategic victory

  by MI on September 18, 2025

  They say that hindsight is 20/20. It is more than three decades now since that historic handshake on the White House lawn in September 1993, when Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak...

  You can’t see the forest for the trees: How the Oslo Accords became Israel’s greatest strategic victory

  

  They say that hindsight is 20/20. It is more than three decades now since that historic handshake on the White House lawn in September 1993, when Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin shook hands under President Bill Clinton’s smiling supervision. The Oslo Accords were hailed as a breakthrough in Middle East peace. But it was all theatre. The flags, the applause, the lofty rhetoric, all designed to conceal the truth: Oslo was a trap, and Arafat walked right into it. It was a masterpiece of strategic deception. Arafat’s original sin was not betrayal but delusion, a catastrophic miscalculation that would spawn all his future strategic blunders. The guerrilla fighter who had spent his life escaping from Jordan to Lebanon to Tunisia