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

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  US will sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, Trump says

  by Marwa A on November 17, 2025

  US President Donald Trump on Monday said he is considering approving the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia, just hours before Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is set to visit the White House on Tuesday, Anadolu reports. “I will say that we will be doing that. We’ll be selling F-35s,” Trump told reporters when asked if he is planning to sell the advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia. Trump said Friday that Riyadh has shown a strong interest in purchasing the advanced aircraft made by Lockheed Martin. “They wanna buy a lot of jets,” he said. “They’ve asked me to look at it. They want to buy a lot of ‘35,’ but they want to buy actually more

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  UN says at least 9 attempts to deliver tents to Gaza rejected

  by Marwa A on November 17, 2025

  The UN on Monday emphasised the severely difficult situation in the Gaza Strip, as its attempts to deliver tents to those in need were repeatedly rejected, Anadolu reports. Citing the Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric warned at a news conference that “the humanitarian situation remains very difficult, with many people struggling to access the basics they need to survive.” Recalling the recent heavy rains in the enclave, Dujarric said the “humanitarian teams carried out a rapid assessment of impacted areas over the weekend and provided some initial aid.” “Since October 10, at least nine attempts by the United Nations and our partners to bring in tents have been rejected,” he noted. He said

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  Emirates places order for 65 aircraft from Boeing worth $38B at Dubai Air Show

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Emirates announced Monday that it placed an order for 65 additional Boeing 777-9 aircraft, worth $38 billion, on the opening day of Dubai Airshow 2025, Anadolu reports. Emirates is Boeing’s largest customer for wide-body jets, and the new order brings the airline’s overall order book with Boeing to 315 wide-body aircraft, the airline said in a statement. It marks a “massive” long-term commitment to US aerospace manufacturing, generating support for hundreds of thousands of high-value manufacturing jobs in the US over the life of the programs, according to the statement. The firm said the Boeing 777-9 aircraft is powered by GE 9X engines, bringing Emirates’ order book with GE Aerospace to 540 units. Emirates stated that the new deal also

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  At least 98 Palestinians died in Israeli prisons over 2 years, rights group says

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  At least 98 Palestinians have died in Israeli prisons since the start of Gaza war in October 2023, an Israeli human rights group said Monday, Anadolu reports. The findings were published in a report issued by Physicians for Human Rights–Israel, which said the report is based on official responses, medical documents, autopsy reports, testimonies from medical staff and released detainees, and other human rights sources. The organization said Israel has concealed the causes of death among Palestinian detainees in its prisons and continues to hide the true number of victims, warning that the real figure is likely much higher. It accused Israel of carrying out a policy of systematic killing, ill-treatment, and medical neglect against Palestinian prisoners. “The unprecedented toll,

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  Former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina sentenced to death

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  A court in Dhaka on Monday sentenced Bangladesh’s fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death, finding her guilty of crimes against humanity committed during last year’s mass demonstrations against her government, Anadolu reports. Amid tight security, the Dhaka-based International Crimes Tribunal delivered the verdict in absentia since Hasina remains in India. Hasina committed crimes against humanity, the court said in the verdict, adding that she was the “superior commander of all the atrocities.” “The crimes happened in her (Sheikh Hasina’s) cool knowledge,” the three-member tribunal, led by Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, read from the 453-page judgement. “All the conditions of being a case of crimes against humanity were proved” in Hasina’s case, it said. Those sentenced to death

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  Palestinian injured by Israeli gunfire near separation wall in occupied East Jerusalem

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  A Palestinian man was injured by Israeli gunfire on Monday in the town of Al-Ram, north of occupied East Jerusalem, according to medics, Anadolu reports. The Palestine Red Crescent Society said in a statement that its teams treated a 43-year-old Palestinian who was shot by Israeli forces near a separation wall in Al-Ram before he was taken to a hospital in Ramallah. No further details were provided regarding the cause of the attack. The Israeli army frequently shoots at Palestinian workers who attempt to climb the separation wall to work inside Israel. East Jerusalem is encircled by a concrete wall topped with barbed wire, most of it built on West Bank land. The barrier rises more than eight meters high

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  Sudanese army captures town in North Kordofan after clashes with paramilitary RSF

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  The Sudanese army recaptured a town in North Kordofan state from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), local sources told Anadolu on Monday. The sources said that army forces seized Um Sayala town, 200 kilometers north of the provincial capital El-Obeid, following fierce clashes with RSF militants. Army soldiers shared on social media platforms videos showing them while entering the town. There was no immediate comment from the army or the RSF on the report. The latest takeover comes after the Sudanese army restored its authority over the Umm Dham Haj Ahmad and Kazgil areas in North Kordofan. Heavy clashes also raged on between the army and the rebel group in Babnousa, the economic hub of North Kordofan and home

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  Netanyahu faces backlash after US-backed statement on Palestinian statehood

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated on Sunday that his government remains firmly opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state, issuing the clarification amid intense criticism from far-right parties in his ruling coalition. The backlash followed a US-backed statement at the United Nations referencing a potential path towards Palestinian statehood. The dispute erupted after the United States and several Muslim-majority countries endorsed a UN resolution supporting former US President Donald Trump’s plan to end the genocide in Gaza. The resolution includes language implying the possibility of an independent Palestinian state, provided that the Palestinian Authority undergoes significant reforms. The clause triggered outrage among Israel’s far-right leadership, who had already voiced opposition to the Trump-brokered ceasefire in Gaza. The political

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  Israeli army chief warns of rapid shift toward expanded aggression on Gaza

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said on Sunday that the Israeli army must be prepared to shift swiftly from defensive operations to a large-scale offensive aimed at occupying territory beyond the so-called “Yellow Line” in the Gaza Strip. Zamir’s remarks came during a visit to Rafah in southern Gaza, according to a statement issued by the Israeli army. Zamir conducted a situational assessment with senior commanders, including Southern Command chief Yaniv Asor, Gaza Division commander Barak Hiram and the heads of all brigades operating in the Strip. The army said Zamir toured the Rafah area, where he reviewed operational developments across all fronts and stressed the need to maintain defensive readiness, eliminate threats and remain prepared for “a rapid

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  Turkey ready to take responsibility in Gaza, urges mechanism to end occupation- Foreign minister

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Saturday that Turkey is prepared to assume responsibility in the Gaza Strip, including the possibility of deploying troops if necessary, Anadolu Agency reported. Turkey is ready to shoulder the burden in Gaza and “will fulfil its responsibilities with a great sense of duty, including sending troops. This is our clearest message to the international community on this matter,” Fidan said in a live interview with A Haber. Noting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s September meeting with his US counterpart Donald Trump, he said the two leaders discussed major topics concerning bilateral relations and regional dynamics. Fidan said Turkey’s recent “foreign policy performance” and its reliability as a partner have made it “a sought-after

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  Gaza police seize drugs and weapons in raid on Zeitoun neighbourhood

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  The Anti-Narcotics Police in the Gaza Strip announced on Sunday that they had seized a significant quantity of narcotics during a raid in the Zeitoun neighbourhood, south of Gaza City, as part of ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking amid the deepening humanitarian and security crisis. In a press statement, the police said the operation was launched following investigations confirming the presence of drugs inside a suspect’s home. Officers searched the location and confiscated 21 slabs of hashish, 317 Rotana narcotic pills, and five marijuana plants, in addition to a Kalashnikov rifle, ammunition and an undisclosed amount of money. Two suspects, identified as (A. Sh.) and (S. Sh.), were arrested and transferred to the competent authorities along with the seized

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  Palestinian body rejects US plan for “international trusteeship” over Gaza

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  The Palestinian National Popular Action Authority — a coalition of conferences, organisations and independent national figures — announced on Sunday its complete rejection of what it described as an American plan to impose “international trusteeship” on the Gaza Strip through the establishment of a transitional administration operating outside the will of the Palestinian people. In a statement carried by Quds Press, the Authority warned that such a proposal represents “a blatant violation of the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and an attempt to reproduce a new form of colonialism using modern tools”. The body stressed that any arrangements concerning Gaza must be determined solely by Palestinians, in a manner that preserves their historical rights, territorial unity and the legitimacy of

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  Egypt, Russia hold talks on Gaza security arrangements ahead of UN Security Council vote

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdel-Aty and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov held consultations on Sunday regarding the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and competing draft resolutions before the UN Security Council, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said. The phone call came on the eve of a potential vote on a US draft resolution concerning Gaza, which faces a Russian counter-proposal. According to the ministry’s statement, the two top diplomats also discussed bilateral relations, the crises in Gaza and Sudan, and the Iranian nuclear file. On Gaza, Abdel-Aty underscored “the importance of moving forward with the implementation of all provisions of the plan announced at the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit,” which he said provides a concrete pathway toward Palestinian self-determination and

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  45 mostly Indian pilgrims killed in Saudi Arabia bus accident

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  45 people were killed after a bus carrying Indian pilgrims met with an accident in Saudi Arabia, officials said Monday, Anadolu reports. The incident occurred in Medina, and the bus was carrying Indian nationals, authorities said. “Forty-five people have died, and there is only one survivor who is currently in the hospital,” V.C.Sajjanar, a top police officer in Southern Telangana state told reporters. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the US social media company X that he was “deeply saddened” by the accident that took place in Medina. “My thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones. I pray for the swift recovery of all those injured,” he said. Modi said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh

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  Israeli forces raid Quneitra countryside in latest violation of Syria’s sovereignty

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Israeli forces staged a new raid into Syria’s southern Quneitra countryside on Monday, violating the country’s sovereignty, local media reported, Anadolu reports. The state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) said that Israeli forces set up a military checkpoint on a road linking the towns of Samdaniya al-Sharqiya and Khan Arnabah in the Quneitra countryside after raiding the area with two 4×4 vehicles. Israeli forces later withdrew from the area, the agency said. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli army or Syrian authorities on the report. Israeli incursions in Quneitra have recently intensified, with locals complaining of Tel Aviv’s advances into their farmland as well as the destruction of hundreds of acres of forests, arrests of residents, and the

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  Israeli court cancels Netanyahu’s Wednesday corruption hearing over ‘security reasons’

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  An Israeli court has cancelled Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled hearing session on Wednesday in his corruption trial due to “security reasons,” Anadolu reports. According to the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Monday, judges approved Netanyahu’s request to cancel the session as the premier claimed that “there is a security issue on Wednesday.” The decision was taken after Netanyahu passed an envelope containing “confidential information” to the public prosecution, the daily added. Netanyahu appeared in court on Monday to answer to charges in Case 1000, in which he and his family are accused of receiving expensive gifts from wealthy businessmen in exchange for political favors. The premier is also accused in Case 2000 of negotiating with Yedioth Ahronoth publisher Arnon Mozes

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  Israel destroys Gaza’s historical palace, with over 20,000 artifacts looted

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Gaza’s historical and cultural heritage has not been spared Israeli bombardment during Tel Aviv’s two-year war, with over 20,000 rare artifacts spanning from prehistoric eras to the Ottoman period missing and looted, Anadolu reports. “The Israeli army has systematically and extensively destroyed Gaza’s archaeological sites as part of a policy aimed at erasing Palestinian identity,” Ismail al-Thawabteh, head of Gaza’s Government Media Office, told Anadolu on Monday. According to official data, Israeli forces fully or partially destroyed more than 316 archaeological sites and buildings in the Gaza Strip, most dating back to the Mamluk and Ottoman eras, while others trace back to the early Islamic centuries and the Byzantine period. Qasr al-Basha, a Mamluk-era palace built on a UNESCO heritage

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  France allows Israeli firms to exhibit at major international security fair

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  France has authorized Israeli companies to take part in a major international homeland security and safety fair, French broadcaster BFMTV reported Monday, Anadolu reports. French President Emmanuel Macron has approved “all Israeli companies that wish to do so” to exhibit at the Milipol Paris fair opening Tuesday, citing the entry into force of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas on Oct. 10, BFMTV reported, citing the Elysee. The 24th edition of the leading biennial event, held under the auspices of the French Interior Ministry, is expected to host around 1,200 exhibitors this year, including 39 Israeli companies. At the Paris Air Show in June, access to Israeli stands had been blocked off with walls and black tarpaulins following government orders

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  Germany lifts restrictions on arms exports to Israel: Spokesman

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Germany announced Monday it will lift restrictions on arms exports to Israel, citing a “stabilized ceasefire” in Gaza and recent diplomatic progress in the region, Anadolu reports. The decision takes effect on Nov. 24 and returns the country to case-by-case review of arms export applications to Israel, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius told the German press agency DPA. Kornelius said the government based its decision on the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that has held since Oct. 10 and has stabilized in recent weeks. He also pointed to efforts toward a sustainable peace and increased humanitarian aid in Gaza. Chancellor Friedrich Merz ordered the restrictions on Aug. 8, halting approval of arms exports that could be used in the Gaza war.

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  Oxford Union votes that Israel poses ‘greater threat’ to regional stability than Iran

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  The Oxford Union, one of the world’s most renowned debating societies, has voted “overwhelmingly” in favor of a motion declaring Israel a greater threat to regional stability than Iran, following a heated debate featuring former Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and Geneva-based NGO UN Watch’s director Hillel Neuer, Anadolu reports. The debate centered on the motion declaring that Israel is a greater threat to regional stability than Iran, as The Telegraph reported this weekend that the society members backed the proposition by a wide margin. Speaking for the motion, Shtayyeh argued that Israel’s actions constitute the primary source of instability in the Middle East, describing it as “an expansionist colonial state established by colonial powers.” He went on to call

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  ‘I served you as the mayor’: Outgoing NYC mayor tells Jews in occupied East Jerusalem

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  New York’s outgoing mayor, Eric Adams, said during his visit to Israel that he “served” Israeli Jews as the mayor of the US city, Anadolu reports. “I wanted to come back here to Israel and let you know that I served you as the mayor,” Eric Adams said on Sunday in the occupied East Jerusalem. Adams departed New York on Saturday for “a multi-day trip” to Israel to meet government officials and visit religious sites, according to his office. “But I want to continue to have the title that’s more important to me than anything: I’m your brother,” Adams said. He will leave the office to his successor, mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, on Jan. 1, 2026. Elected on Nov. 4, Mamdani,

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  Sudan says great lakes summit backs recommendation to classify RSF as terrorist group

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  The Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that the Great Lakes countries’ summit approved a recommendation to classify the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) as a terrorist organisation. The ninth summit of Great Lakes states concluded in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, issuing its final statement. The statement included a clear recommendation to the UN Security Council calling for the condemnation of the Rapid Support Forces. Sudan’s delegation to the summit was led by a Member of the Transitional Sovereignty Council and Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Lieutenant General Engineer Ibrahim Jaber Ibrahim, along with several government officials and security leaders. The summit’s final statement addressed security and defence issues within the Great Lakes region, as well as matters concerning women, children, and social

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  From UK to Istanbul: British activist completing 6.5-month walk to raise aid for Palestinians

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  British activist Ruth Herbert is nearing the end of her 6.5-month walk from the UK to Istanbul to raise donations for Palestinians, Anadolu reports. Herbert, 52, left her home in Arnside on May 2 and crossed the UK, France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Montenegro, Albania, North Macedonia and Greece before reaching Turkiye. She will conclude her 6.5-month journey in Istanbul on Saturday. So far, she has raised around £50,000. Speaking to Anadolu, Herbert said the walk was inspired by her desire to do more for Palestinians beyond attending protests. “What inspired me to do this was just seeing the suffering of the Palestinians and feeling that I wanted to do something. Obviously writing to our governments and going to demonstrations in

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  Why Qatar is more eligible and successful in global mediation than others

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Under a mediatory role from Qatar, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the rebel March 23 Movement (M23) signed a peace framework in the Qatari capital Doha on Saturday (15 November), marking the latest step in Qatar’s efforts to end the decades-long conflict in eastern Congo and commit the conflicting parties to a comprehensive peace agreement. This is was not Qatar’s first mediation role, but a coronation of a successful mediatory path and international reputation that places the small Gulf state as a top mediator state. Over the past two decades, Qatar has emerged as one of the most effective mediators in conflicts around the world, carving out a diplomatic profile that far exceeds its geographic size.

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  Iranian official: IAEA shared information about our nuclear programme with Israel

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Iran’s Vice President and head of the Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, said that the first site targeted by Israel during recent military tensions was a fuel production plant for Tehran’s research nuclear reactor. Speaking at the conference “International Law under Attack: Aggression and Self-Defence” in Tehran, Eslami said: “The first site attacked by Israel was the fuel production plant for Tehran’s reactor, and information about it was in the hands of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).” He added: “When you have a room in a building for tests, equipped with the help of the IAEA, and that very room becomes the target of a strike, how can such precise targeting happen except with information from the IAEA?” Eslami

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  Hamas rejects US plan, says it does not serve stability in Gaza

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said that the amendments and points in the US draft resolution do not promote stability in Gaza. In a television interview, Qassem stated, “the amendments and axes of the US draft resolution at the Security Council do not serve the stability of the situation in Gaza, and we want a Security Council resolution that defends our people’s right to self-determination and prevents war on Gaza.” He added, “we want a Security Council resolution that prevents the occupier from overrunning Gaza, the West Bank or Jerusalem.” He emphasised that “the United States is trying to appease some parties with non-binding wording, and the alternative is to issue a resolution that strengthens a ceasefire and establishes an international

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  Palestinian resistance leader warns US proposal carries major risks, ignores Palestinian rights

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  The deputy secretary-general of Islamic Jihad, Mohammed Hindy, has warned that the United States’ proposed resolution on Gaza carries serious risks and overlooks key issues for the Palestinian people. Speaking in remarks reported by Al Jazeera, he said the suggested Peace Council could become a form of legitimised occupation if its role and formation are not clearly defined. He stressed that it is unacceptable to impose the Israeli and US vision on the Palestinian people under a UN mandate. Hindy affirmed his movement’s definitive rejection of any international force in Gaza to replace the occupation, stressing that talk of a “Palestinian state” in the American project is ambiguous and does not guarantee the geographical connection between Gaza and the West

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  State-sanctioned Jewish-mob terror in the West Bank

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  In the occupied West Bank, Palestinian villages have become open fields for illegal Jewish settlers operating under the protection of the Israeli army. In recent weeks, organized Jewish mobs, some armed with rifles and sticks, others carrying torches, have unleashed violence across occupied Palestinian towns and villages. It is not only that Israeli soldiers stand providing cover for the illegal Jewish mobs, the army blocks Palestinian farmers from accessing their farms for the annual olive harvest. The Jewish mob’s thuggery follows a clear pattern where settlers attack homes, burn olive groves, beat villagers and drive out farmers from their land. Multiple international eyewitness accounts and videos showed Jewish settlers descending from Jewish only colonies, escorted by soldiers firing tear-gas or

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  Israel releases nurse Tasneem al-Hums

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  Israeli forces released the Palestinian nurse Tasneem al-Hums on Sunday evening after detaining her for nearly six weeks. Family sources said that Tasneem, the daughter of detained doctor Marwan al-Hums, arrived in the Gaza Strip shortly after her release. A special Israeli unit had seized her on 2 October in Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, before taking her to an unknown location and holding her until her release yesterday. Since 7 October 2023, Israel — with US and European support — has carried out large-scale military actions in Gaza that have caused widespread killing, hunger, destruction, displacement and arrests, despite international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt them. These actions have resulted in more than

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  Israeli- run group facilitates Gazan relocations via Ramon airport: Haaretz report

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  An organisation run by a man with dual Israeli–Estonian nationality is behind the recent charter flights taking Palestinians from Gaza through Ramon Airport, Haaretz reported.  The investigation found that the body presenting itself as an association is in fact a front for a consultancy company registered in Estonia. South Africa’s border authorities said on Friday that dozens of Palestinians who arrived at Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport on Wednesday, after travelling from Kenya, were eventually allowed to enter the country following an initial refusal over entry requirements. Despite the clearance, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, in remarks carried by the Associated Press, that “the country’s intelligence services are investigating the party behind a charter plane that landed in Johannesburg with more

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  The dawn that never broke: Re-evaluating an ‘unresolved’ war between Iran and Israel

  by MI on November 17, 2025

  The dawn following 13 June 13 brought no victory for Israel. The twelve-day war between Iran and Israel did not culminate in an Israeli triumph or an “Iranian eclipse.” Instead, evidence suggests both sides concluded the first round in a strategic, fifty-fifty stalemate. This analysis examines four fundamental gaps in the “decisive Israeli victory” narrative: the nuclear programme data gap, the missile capacity optimism gap, the command structure recognition gap and the flawed social response data gap. The victory narrative gap The analysis of the recent war is profoundly divided. Iranian official media claims victory, while international media and Western analytical centres generally assume a decisive Israeli victory based on downgraded Iranian capabilities. Thomas Juneau (2025) of Chatham House, emphasises

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  Genocide, ecocide, erasure: Gaza at the edge of survival

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  Few terms in international law carry the weight of genocide. One of the only concepts that stands alongside it is ecocide. The first refers to the destruction of a people; the second to the destruction of the conditions that sustain life. Gaza now sits at the intersection of both. Together, these terms describe two interlinked crises: one threatening human survival, the other threatening environmental survival. Each deepens the other. The Genocide Convention defines genocide through five acts: killing members of a targeted group; causing serious bodily or mental harm; deliberately imposing conditions of life intended to bring about physical destruction; preventing births; and forcibly transferring children. Since 7 October 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel and Israel responded with overwhelming force,

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  A new face of ethnic cleansing: From siege to demographic engineering

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  When a chartered flight carrying more than 150 Palestinians from Gaza landed in Johannesburg last week, confusion filled South African airwaves. As reported by The Guardian (15 Nov 2025), the passengers — weary, hungry, and bewildered — were held on board for hours, unable to explain where they had come from or who had organised their journey. Most had no exit stamps or official travel documents. To many observers, it looked like a logistical mishap amid the chaos of war. Yet behind the scenes, a far more disturbing pattern appears to be emerging: the quiet transformation of forced displacement into a new, bureaucratic face of ethnic cleansing. For decades, Zionist Israel has pursued systematic methods to dispossess Palestinians. The open

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  Israel presses US to soften UN draft that references Palestinian self-determination, statehood

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  Israel presses the US to soften the wording of an American draft resolution that the UN Security Council is set to vote on Monday, which mentions “self-determination and the establishment of a Palestinian state,” Israeli media reported Sunday, Anadolu reports. Tel Aviv is making “last-minute efforts to change the wording of the proposal that will be approved tomorrow in the Security Council regarding the multinational force that will deploy in the Gaza Strip,” Israel’s public broadcaster KAN said. Aides to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and senior officials at the Foreign Ministry have been holding discussions with the team of US President Donald Trump and Arab leaders “to ease the language of the expected resolution,” it added. According to the broadcaster,

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  US Rep. Greene questions Israeli ties to Epstein, says feud with Trump stems from files push

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  US Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene said on Sunday that a foreign government may be pressuring President Donald Trump to keep Jeffrey Epstein files hidden, specifically questioning Israel’s potential involvement with the late sex offender, Anadolu reports. “I think the question that many Americans are asking” is whether Epstein was working for Israel, Greene told CNN, citing emails released by the House Oversight Committee showing his ties to former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. “We saw him making business deals with them, also business deals that involved the Israeli government and seems to have led into their intel agencies,” the Georgia Republican said. Asked if she was accusing Israel of pushing Trump to cover up the files, Greene said she was

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  Heavy rains flood tents sheltering displaced Gazans for 3rd day

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  Dozens of tents sheltering displaced families have been flooded by rainwater in the Al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip, the Civil Defence said Sunday, Anadolu reports. For the third consecutive day, Gaza has been affected by a weather depression accompanied by cold air, rain, and strong winds, with meteorological forecasts expecting it to subside by Sunday evening. Stormy winds have caused thousands of tents to collapse or be blown away, leaving families staying on the streets and forcing many to seek shelter inside destroyed buildings that pose serious safety risks. In a statement, the Gaza Civil Defence renewed warnings about the “risk of destroyed, structurally unstable buildings collapsing on their occupants” due to heavy rain and

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  Holier than thou, now hollow: Hezbollah, Israel, and Tom Barrack’s ignominious fall

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  The Middle East, once again, is standing at a crucial crossroad. Hezbollah refuses to disarm. Israel vows it will force the issue. Washington, through its envoy Tom Barrack, has delivered an ultimatum, sounding less like diplomacy but rather like a loaded gun laid on the negotiating table. But beneath this geopolitical stand-off lies another implosion-moral, not military: the sanctimonious unravelling of Tom Barrack himself, whose name now flickers through the sprawling Epstein files. In a region accustomed to hypocrisy, this one still manages to astound. Hezbollah’s defiance, Israel’s fury Barak’s warning in Beirut was unambiguous: Hezbollah must surrender its weapons before the year’s end or “Israel will do it for them.” It was a performance of a condescending, righteous American

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  Israeli forces raid Syrian town in Quneitra countryside

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  Five Israeli military vehicles infiltrated a village in the Quneitra countryside of southwestern Syria on Sunday, in the latest violation of the country’s sovereignty, Anadolu reports. An Israeli force of five military vehicles moved into the town of Saida al-Golan in southern Quneitra early morning, before pulling back afterwards, the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported. Israeli forces also raided the outskirts of Ma’riya village, west of Daraa province, the outlet said. Israeli incursions in Quneitra have recently intensified, with locals complaining of Tel Aviv’s advances into their farmland as well as the destruction of hundreds of acres of forests, arrests of residents, and the establishment of military checkpoints. According to government data, the Israeli army had carried out

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  Red ribbons in London: A silent uprising bringing Palestinian hostages back into view

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  Walking through Westminster, in the quiet rush of central London, flashes of red caught my attention — ribbons tied to lampposts, railings, and street fixtures. They were not adverts or campaign posters, but dense, symbolic gestures: spontaneous in form, unmistakable in meaning. They returned to public sight faces that have long been hidden behind prison walls — Palestinian hostages abducted by the occupation from homes and hospitals, held without trial under a system that resembles nothing but the law of the jungle. These ribbons seemed like individual efforts, small and uncoordinated, yet unified in what they were trying to say: that the Palestinian hostage file remains locked in darkness, despite being one of the most devastating human crises. Thousands have

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  Reframing the terminology of war

  by Marwa A on November 16, 2025

  In light of Israel’s continued return of hundreds of Palestinian bodies who were killed under torture, blindfolded, restrained, bearing marks of abuse and fatal gunshots, many of them so mutilated that they were interred as unidentified, it has become essential to reopen the file of mass abductions, torture, and extrajudicial killings targeting Palestinians from Gaza. The scale and gravity of these violations require immediate investigation through all available legal, diplomatic, and humanitarian avenues to safeguard the tens of thousands whose fate remains unknown. The disturbing images of Palestinian prisoners of war tortured to death were not the only scenes to shake Palestinians. Equally horrifying were the testimonies of civilian hostages recently released by Israeli authorities after establishing that they bore

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  Lebanon to file UN complaint over Israeli wall building in south

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Lebanese President Joseph Aoun has instructed the Foreign Ministry to file an urgent complaint with the UN Security Council over Israel’s construction of a concrete wall in southern Lebanon that extends beyond the UN-demarcated Blue Line, Anadolu reports. Aoun asked Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi to task Lebanon’s permanent mission to the UN with submitting the complaint, saying the Israeli barrier violates Lebanon’s sovereignty and UN Security Council Resolution 1701, the presidency said in a statement. Resolution 1701, adopted on Aug. 11, 2006, calls for a cessation of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel and the establishment of a weapons-free zone between the Blue Line and Lebanon’s Litani River. Aoun also ordered that the complaint include UN reports that refute Israel’s denial

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  German Left party urges ‘end to repression against pro-Palestinian movements’

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Germany’s opposition party The Left on Saturday called for an end to what it views as a crackdown against pro-Palestinian solidarity movements in the country, Anadolu reports. “The repression against pro-Palestinian movements must end. Palestinian self-determination can only go hand in hand with Jewish self-determination in Israel and Palestine, and vice versa,” said Left party chairwoman Ines Schwerdtner at a state party congress in Berlin. Schwerdnter also called on her party to stand up for the Palestinian cause. Last month, UN experts expressed concern over Germany’s policing of pro-Palestine demonstrations and “suppression” of Palestine solidarity activism, which they said has become increasingly restrictive since October 2023. They observed that, despite the peaceful nature of most pro-Palestine demonstrations, Germany has been

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  Palestine Book Awards 2025: Winners Announced in London Ceremony

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  The fourteenth annual Palestine Book Awards, organised by the Middle East Monitor (MEMO), took place yesterday in London in a moving and powerful display of literary celebration. Now firmly established as a key cultural event, the evening brought together writers, scholars, publishers, artists and activists committed to preserving Palestinian history, amplifying its narrative, and exposing the structures that seek to erase it. This year marked a record-breaking edition of the awards, with over 80 books submitted across categories. The winners of the 2025 Palestine Book Awards were announced during the ceremony, with honours going to: 2025 Winners of 14th Palestine Book Awards Academic Award: Dr Nasser Abourahme Translation Award: Hazem Jamjoum Creative Award: Yousef Aljamal Oral History Award: Mohammad Tarbush

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  Israel closes Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, imposes curfew on Palestinians for Jewish holiday

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Israeli forces have maintained a curfew on Palestinians in the Old City of Hebron in the southern West Bank and closed the Ibrahimi Mosque to Muslim worshippers to allow illegal settlers to mark a Jewish holiday, local activists said Saturday. The army has enforced the curfew since Friday morning across multiple neighborhoods of the old city, Aref Jaber, a member of the non-governmental Hebron Defense Committee and a resident of the area, told Anadolu. Jaber said Israeli forces shut military checkpoints leading to the old city and barred all entry and exit. Many Palestinian residents were unable to return to their homes and were forced to stay overnight with relatives elsewhere in Hebron, he added. The activist said hundreds of

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  Iraq election commission says objections will not affect preliminary results

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Iraq’s electoral commission said Saturday that objections to the results of the country’s parliamentary elections will not affect the preliminary results. “All objections submitted so far are classified as complaints only,” Hassan Salman, the commission’s legal adviser, told the state news agency INA. “It is not possible to file an appeal against preliminary results.” He said complaints are classified into three categories: “yellow,” which are minor and dismissed procedurally; “green,” which require investigation and must be resolved within 72 hours; and “red,” which could potentially impact results. He added that the commission “has not recorded any red complaints so far.” Salman said settling complaints “may be faster than in previous elections” and could be concluded next week. OPINION: Iraq’s elections

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  South Africa investigates ‘mysterious’ chartered flight carrying 153 Palestinian refugees

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  South Africa is investigating a “mysterious” chartered flight that brought 153 Palestinian refugees into the country without the required documents on Thursday, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Friday, Anadolu reports. “These are people from Gaza who somehow mysteriously were put on a plane that passed by Nairobi (Kenya’s capital) and came here,” Ramaphosa told reporters, adding that the intelligence agency and the Department of Home Affairs, are investigating the matter. On Thursday, South Africa granted a 90-day visa exemption for 153 Palestinians who arrived from Kenya to seek asylum in the country, although they were initially denied entry due to not passing the required interviews and lacking customary departure stamps in their passports. The Palestinian refugees waited for more than 10

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  Jordan’s King Abdullah arrives on 2-day visit to Pakistan

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Jordan’s King Abdullah Saturday arrived on a two-day state visit to Pakistan to further strengthen bilateral relations, Anadolu reports. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received the Jordanian head of state and his delegation at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi, just next to the capital Islamabad. This is the first official visit by a Jordanian monarch in 21 years. As the king’s aircraft entered Pakistani airspace, a formation of Pakistan Air Force JF-17 Thunder aircraft provided a protective escort and accompanied the royal flight. READ: Jordan’s king warns countries will reject ‘peace enforcement’ role in Gaza under Trump plan During his visit, King Abdullah will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the Prime

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  Iran confirms seizure of foreign oil tanker over ‘violations’

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirmed Saturday that naval forces have seized a foreign oil tanker off the country’s southern coast, citing “violations” by the vessel, Anadolu Agency reports. In a statement, the IRGC said a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker, named “Talara,” was intercepted off the Makran coast following a judicial order. The tanker was found “in breach for transporting unauthorized goods,” as it was reportedly carrying 30,000 tons of petrochemicals on its way to Singapore, the statement said. On Friday, British maritime security firm Ambrey said that the Talara tanker, traveling from the United Arab Emirates to Singapore, veered toward Iranian territorial waters while transiting the Gulf of Oman. READ: Egypt, Iran, IAEA discuss ways to advance peaceful solutions

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  Israel returns remains of 15 more Gazans under ceasefire deal, Health Ministry

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Saturday that it had received the remains of 15 more Palestinians from Israel via the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) under a ceasefire deal, Anadolu Agency reports. A ministry statement said that the new transfer brought the number of Palestinian bodies returned by Israel to 330 since the ceasefire took effect on Oct. 10. Forensic teams have so far identified 97 bodies and are continuing examinations “in accordance with approved medical procedures and protocols” before the remains are documented and released to families, the ministry said. Palestinian authorities said that many of the bodies handed over by Israel showed signs of abuse, including beatings, bound hands, blindfolds, and facial disfigurement, and were returned

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  Turkiye reiterates support for Palestine on 37th founding anniversary

  by MI on November 15, 2025

  Turkiye on Saturday congratulated the State of Palestine on the 37th anniversary of its founding, reiterating support for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, Anadolu reports. The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a message on the Turkish social media platform NSosyal, saying: “Happy 37th anniversary of the founding of the friendly and brotherly State of Palestine! As Turkiye, we will continue to defend the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people and support their just cause.” “Our country’s goal remains the establishment of an independent, sovereign and territorially integrated State of Palestine within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on a two-state solution for lasting peace,” it added. The State of Palestine was declared on Nov. 15,