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Israeli strike kills journalist in central Gaza Submitted by Bilge Kotan on Sat, 06/20/2026 - 19:14 Al Jazeera cameraman's death comes less than two months after Israel killed his journalist brother in a double-tap strike Mohammed Samir Wishah during an assignment. (X / tamerqdh) Off An Israeli strike targeting a residential home in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza killed Palestinian Al Jazeera Mubasher journalist and cameraman Ahmed Samir Wishah on Saturday. Nine other Palestinians, including four members of a family, were killed on Saturday. Al Jazeera said in a statement that it “strongly condemns the heinous crime of targeting and killing” of the correspondent. “This constitutes a new and flagrant violation of all international laws and norms, and reflects a continued systematic policy of targeting journalists and silencing the voice of truth,” the network said in a statement. The Israeli military confirmed carrying out the strike that killed the journalist, claiming he was a "Hamas terrorist", without providing any evidence. ". Committee to Protect Journalists said it was "alarmed" by Wishah's killing, saying it is "underscoring the devastating toll this war continues to take on journalists. push({}); "CPJ is investigating the circumstances of this incident and calls for a thorough and transparent inquiry by the Israeli authorities," the organisation said. CPJ is alarmed by reports that Al Jazeera cameraman #Ahmed_Samir_Washah was killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a residential home in the Al-Bureij refugee camp in central Gaza. pic. Washah’s death comes just two months after the killing of his brother, journalist Muhammad… twitter. com/jw6MtA64Pq — CPJ MENA (@CPJMENA) June 20, 2026 Wishah's brother, journalist Mohammed Samir, was killed on 8 April when an Israeli double-tap strike struck his vehicle while he was travelling to cover a story. He also worked for Al Jazeera Mubasher. Wishah’s colleagues said they had feared for his safety months earlier, after an Israeli incitement campaign targeted him during his reporting of the genocide over the past two years. According to figures from the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 260 Palestinian journalists have been killed since Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023. Wishah is the 12th Al Jazeera staffer killed in the Gaza Strip during the same period. Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Military · Geopolitical

US forces monitoring Strait of Hormuz to ensure it stays open The US military on Saturday denied Iran's claims that it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, saying the critical waterway remained open and that US forces were monitoring the situation to ensure that it continued. "Iran does not control the Strait of Hormuz," US Central Command spokesperson Navy Captain Tim Hawkins told Reuters. "Traffic continues to flow, and US forces are monitoring the situation to ensure this remains the case. " Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz shut earlier on Saturday and warned ships not to approach the waterway, casting new doubt on the future of a ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran meant to pave the way for in-depth peace talks. (AFP) Container vessels and ships are docked along a pier at the Khor Fakkan Container Terminal, the only natural deep-sea port in the region and one of the major container ports in Sharjah Emirate, along the Gulf of Oman on 19 June 2026.

Military · Geopolitical

Iran recloses Strait of Hormuz after Israeli attacks on Lebanon Iran announced that it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz over Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, according to a military command statement carried by state media. “It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic,” the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters said in remarks carried by Iran’s Mehr state news agency. “It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy's breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations. " The decision was later confirmed in a statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which warned vessels not to approach the strait or risk their security being compromised. The IRGC cited Israeli attacks on Lebanon and US violations of the ceasefire agreement as reasons for the closure. Read more: Iran recloses Strait of Hormuz after Israeli attacks on Lebanon Vessels are seen anchored in Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz in a picture obtained on 18 June 2026 (AFP/Isna)

Military · Geopolitical

Iran re-closes Strait of Hormuz after Israeli attacks on Lebanon Submitted by MEE staff on Sat, 06/20/2026 - 15:14 Tehran warns of 'further steps being taken', as Israel launches wave of strikes across southern Lebanon In this picture obtained from Iran's Isna news agency on 18 June 2026, vessels are seen anchored in Bandar Abbas along the Strait of Hormuz (AFP/Isna news agency) Off Iran announced that it had once again closed the Strait of Hormuz over Israeli attacks on southern Lebanon, according to a military command statement carried by state media. “It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic,” the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters said in remarks carried by Iran’s Mehr state news agency. “It is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy's breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations. " The decision was later confirmed in a statement by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It warned vessels not to approach the Strait of Hormuz, or their security would be at risk.. push({}); The IRGC cited Israeli attacks on Lebanon, as well as US violations of the ceasefire agreement, as reasons for the closure. A fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the vital waterway, which Iran had effectively closed for nearly four months since Israel and the US began the war in late February. It was briefly re-opened after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a preliminary agreement earlier this week to halt hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. The announcement of the closure of Hormuz came after at least 29 people were killed on Saturday, as Israeli forces launched a wave of attacks on southern Lebanon a day after Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire. A series of Israeli attacks on the Nabatieh district on Saturday killed 16 people and wounded 12 others, Lebanon’s civil defence agency said.. push({}); An Israeli strike on the village of Barish in Tyre, a coastal city known as Sour in Arabic, killed four members of the same family, according to Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA). The NNA also reported that at least seven people were killed and 13 were injured in an Israeli attack on a village near the southern city of Sidon. Another person was killed in the municipality of Shahour in the Tyre district, and one person was killed in the town of Sohmor, the western Bekaa Valley, in eastern Lebanon. The Lebanese army said one of its officers had been killed in an Israeli air strike on the Kfar Rumman-Nabatieh road. “It has become clear that the continued brutal Israeli attacks aim to obstruct any solution that would allow for the restoration of stability in Lebanon,” the army said in a statement.. push({}); Talks continue in Switzerland The attacks on Lebanon come as the US and Iran sought to implement a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending hostilities. The Israeli government and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday afternoon, mediated by Qatar and the US. Follow up talks to implement the agreement were set to take place in Switzerland over the weekend. Iran's foreign ministry said that its negotiating delegation would travel to Switzerland to discuss the implementation of the agreement signed with the US. Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the team would "travel to Switzerland to follow up and demand implementation of the other party's commitments" under the deal, according to the official news agency Irna. Switzerland provided a "discreet and reliable setting" at Burgenstock to facilitate discussions on implementing the memorandum of understanding, the Swiss foreign ministry said on Saturday. It added in a statement that no further details would be disclosed about participants and the content of the talks, citing confidentiality. War on Iran News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Military · Geopolitical

Iran closes Hormuz over Lebanon ceasefire violations Iran’s top joint military command said on Saturday that the Strait of Hormuz would be closed to vessel traffic again, citing Israel’s attacks on southern Lebanon as a violation of Iran’s agreement with the US. “It is hereby announced that the Strait of Hormuz will be closed to vessel traffic; it is noted that this first step is a response to the enemy’s breach of promise, and if the aggression continues, further steps will be planned and taken to force the enemy to comply with its obligations,” the Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters said in a statement carried by Iran’s Mehr News Agency.

Military · Geopolitical

Israel kills at least 29 in Lebanon, one day after ceasefire deal Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Sat, 06/20/2026 - 12:18 Israeli forces launch new wave of attacks, while Iran says US deal dependent on security for Lebanon Smoke rises from the site of a string of Israeli air strikes that targeted the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on 20 June 2026 (Abbas Fakih/AFP) Off At least 29 people have been killed in a new wave of Israeli attacks on Lebanon across southern Lebanon and the eastern Beqaa Valley, just a day after a ceasefire was announced. Lebanon’s civil defence agency said a series of Israeli attacks on the Nabatieh district in the country’s south on Saturday killed 16 people and wounded 12 others. The agency said its personnel had been working since dawn to respond to the ongoing attacks. An Israeli strike on the village of Barish in Tyre, a coastal city known as Sour in Arabic, killed four members of the same family, which Lebanon's National News Agency (NNA) described as a "massacre". The NNA also reported that at least seven people were killed and 13 were injured in an Israeli attack on a village near the southern city of Sidon.. push({}); Another person was killed in the municipality of Shahour in the Tyre district, and one person was killed in the town of Sohmor, the western Bekaa Valley, in eastern Lebanon. In a statement published on X, the Lebanese army said one of its officers had been killed in an Israeli air strike on the Kfar Rumman-Nabatieh road. “It has become clear that the continued brutal Israeli attacks aim to obstruct any solution that would allow for the restoration of stability in Lebanon,” the army said in a statement. The Israeli army said it was striking Hezbollah in response to overnight projectile attacks on Israeli troops stationed in southern Lebanon. Hezbollah said its fighters confronted Israeli forces overnight as they attempted to infiltrate strategic hills overlooking Nabatieh.. push({}); "Again, under the cover of the ceasefire, the enemy last night carried out an infiltration attempt towards the Ali Taher hills," Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that fighters ambushed the Israeli troops and "confronted them with appropriate weapons". Meanwhile, a member of the Lebanese parliament affiliated with Hezbollah, Hassan Fadlallah, said on Saturday that the group had the “full right” to respond to Israeli attacks and that any ceasefire would be “meaningless” while Israel continued to occupy Lebanese territory. He said Israel must fully respect the ceasefire agreement by refraining from attacking Lebanese territory or occupying new positions. “The resistance has the full right to confront this enemy when it attacks us, as it is the aggressor and the occupier,” he added. Ceasefire sabotage The attacks on Lebanon come as the US and Iran sought to implement a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending hostilities.. push({}); The deal has prompted anger and disappointment from Israeli officials, who took to social media to vent their frustrations. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called it “bad for Israel” and added that Israel would have to continue its campaign against Iran alone. Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir wrote: "Trump's agreement does not bind us. " What does the US-Iran deal mean for Lebanon? Read More » US President Donald Trump also criticised Israeli conduct, saying that “too many people have been killed in Lebanon” and suggesting its tactics were disproportionate and indiscriminate. Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a preliminary agreement earlier this week to halt hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon. However, follow-up talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland were indefinitely postponed after Israel launched a wave of attacks that killed 18 people in Lebanon. The Israeli government and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday afternoon, mediated by Qatar and the US. Just hours before the deal was signed, Ben Gvir wrote in a post on X that “all of Lebanon must burn” after the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon. In response, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that his comments were characteristic of the Israeli government’s official position, which he called “a threat to all of humanity”. “This is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It’s a public post by the national security minister of the Israeli regime,” Araghchi wrote on X. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh doubled down on Tehran's position in an interview with Al Jazeera Arabic on Friday, saying Iran's willingness to continue negotiations with Washington depends on the “seriousness” needed to ensure Israel abides by the terms of the MoU. Khatibzadeh warned that Israel's “continued war-making” would carry consequences that are “serious and immediate”. “There will be no peace or stability in Lebanon and the region without ending the occupation and Israel’s commitment to international law,” he added. Israel's war on Lebanon News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Military · Geopolitical

Hezbollah says it confronted Israeli 'infiltration attempt' in south Hezbollah said its fighters confronted overnight Israeli forces as they tried to infiltrate towards strategic hills that overlook the southern city of Nabatieh. "Again, under the cover of the ceasefire, the enemy last night carried out an infiltration attempt towards the Ali Taher hills," Hezbollah said in a statement, adding that fighters ambushed the Israeli troops and "confronted them with appropriate weapons". Hezbollah "declares that while it is committed to the ceasefire, it will not be lenient in confronting any enemy attempt... to expand its occupation," the statement added.

Military · Geopolitical

Israeli military says it is striking Hezbollah targets in south Lebanon Israel's military said it has been striking Hezbollah targets in response to overnight projectile launches at Israeli troops stationed in Lebanese terrority. “Overnight, the Hezbollah terrorist organisation launched more than 50 projectiles at Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. Following the attacks, the IDF has been striking Hezbollah terrorist targets in southern Lebanon,” an Israeli military official said. This comes after a Hezbollah lawmaker called any ceasefire “meaningless” while the Israeli army remains on Lebanese territory in the country’s south. Smoke rises from the site of a string of Israeli airstrikes that targeted the southern Lebanese city of Nabatieh on 20 June 2026 (Abbas Fakih/AFP)

Military · Geopolitical

Bolivia's President Rodrigo Paz has declared a state of emergency, escalating a fifty-day blockade crisis that has ground the country's economy to a halt. The move clears the way for military deployment nationwide. It comes hours after Paz struck a deal with the country's main trade union federation to end protests that triggered shortages of food, medicine and fuel across the capital. Story by Charlotte Lam.

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'Fear, panic and exhaustion': Women in Syria's Roj camp report worsening abuse Submitted by Reem Aouir on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 13:54 Detainees in Kurdish-controlled camp housing families of suspected Islamic State fighters say they have been subjected to nightly raids and mistreatment Roj camp in 2021, where around 2,373 people, mostly women and children, remain detained (Repatriate the Children). Off Women detained in Syria' s Roj camp say violence, intimidation and degrading treatment have intensified since the start of 2026, according to a recent report that raises fresh concerns over the fate of women and children still held in the country's last major detention facility for foreign nationals accused of links to the Islamic State (IS) group. The report, published last month by the Swedish-based rights organisation Repatriate the Children (RTC), draws on testimony from more than 40 women of multiple nationalities held inside the camp between January and May 2026. Women described nightly armed raids, beatings, gunfire inside the camp, and children being separated from their mothers. The report stated that violations towards the detainees in Roj camp had increased "significantly in both frequency and severity" following developments in January 2026. United Nations experts have previously warned that conditions in Hol and Roj camps may amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, while Amnesty International has documented allegations of gender-based violence and abuse against female detainees. Even before the latest developments, RTC said women and children held in Roj were long exposed to what it described as "gross and systematic human rights violations".. push({}); Located near the Iraqi border in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province, Roj camp is controlled and administered by the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The facility, which houses women and children linked to suspected former IS fighters, became the country's last major detention camp for foreign families after the collapse of the larger Hol camp in January. Beatrice Eriksson, the co-founder of Repatriate the Children in Sweden, told Middle East Eye: "Over the past few weeks, we’ve seen again an increase in reports of heightened violence, intimidation and night raids in Roj camp, with reports of hostile night raids where women are being beaten, people are taken away from the camp to other detention facilities and children being exposed to violence. ” 'Every night is painful' For many women in the Roj camp, the fear is not only of what has happened, but of what might happen next. According to the report, women had regularly reported since January that nightly raids by guards had created "a constant state of anticipation and distress".. push({}); “Every night it’s the same. We don’t know whether they will enter upon us, and we are always afraid. They are pointing guns at women... hoping they don’t enter our tents next. Until the car leaves, emotions are uncontrollable, heart beating, legs quivering from fear,” one woman said. Many described living under constant threat, saying they were too afraid to leave their tents during security operations after being warned they could be killed if they did. “Today, the military told us that if they shout into the megaphone, not to come out, so that we do not leave the tents, otherwise the sniper on the tower will shoot at us. ” Testimonies also reveal that recent developments have further intensified the psychological impact on captives, particularly due to direct death threats against families. Women reported other forms of mistreatment, including detainees having cold water poured over them “to make them freeze further in the cold winter conditions” and being subjected to verbal abuse by camp personnel.. push({}); According to testimonies gathered by RTC, detainees were told: "There are no human rights" and "See if your God can save you now". One woman linked the deterioration in conditions to the wider instability that followed the SDF's territorial losses earlier this year as the new government in Damascus under President Ahmed al-Sharaa re-exerted control over areas of the country which had been administered by the Kurdish authorities for much of Syria's civil war. "It is like they are taking out all of their frustration on us," she said. "And we cannot do anything to protect ourselves. " MEE has contacted the Syrian government and Kurdish officials to ask for comment. Women also reported that security raids frequently went beyond detentions and physical abuse, with testimonies describing regular confiscation or theft of personal belongings such as money, phones, and other possessions during searches. Many women recounted how their tents and homes were ransacked, property was damaged, and acts of intimidation were common, leaving detainees in a state of fear and anxiety. "The night before, the car came outside my tent. They entered my neighbour's tent, they took her to the house and beat her," a women said. "We were just silent, waiting for the car to go. It was an awful night. I heard the woman when she was back; she cried so loudly. The next morning, I saw her tent, and I was in shock. They damaged it all. They took her money and her phone," she added. "Last night they robbed the tents again, took out everything, carpets, blankets, wardrobes, even food," she said. "Some were beaten again and demanded a phone. " Such incidents contributed to a growing sense of insecurity throughout the camp, with many fearing they could be targeted next. "You don't know if you will be their next victim. Honestly, I've never experienced fear like this before," a woman said. Another woman recounted what she said was a raid on a neighbour who operated a small shop inside the camp. "They went inside a neighbour who has a little shop. Put her kids against the wall, put a gun to her head and asked her to give them her phone," she said. "She stayed calm. " Alongside security concerns, women reported a deterioration in living conditions and access to basic services. Testimonies describe worsening electricity shortages, inadequate healthcare and growing concerns about the camp's ability to meet residents' basic needs. "Everyone is sitting in tents. There is no electricity. The generator that gave electricity was taken away," one woman said. "The whole camp raised money for this generator... but it was stolen. " Women said the worsening conditions were having an increasing impact on their physical and mental health. "Our health is deteriorating because of this... sometimes I can't get up in the morning". “They are destroying our mental health, [the] majority [of] women here needs psychological care - this humiliation, belittlement, mockery has affected us mentally. ” One woman claimed that a French woman detained at the camp had died in April after being denied medical treatment. "She was complaining of severe headaches and pain. They told her to go back to her tent. In the afternoon, she had a heart attack and died," the woman recalled. For many women, the psychological impact of the past months has been as severe as the physical hardships, with detainees describing a daily existence shaped by fear, insecurity, and unpredictability. "It's a horror movie. Live horror movie. We're living through it," a woman said. “I am very tired of living in fear and anxiety. Every night is painful," another added. Almost two-thirds of detainees in Roj camp are children (Repatriate the Children) A childhood behind fences Children make up the majority of Roj camp's population, accounting for 63 percent of the 2,324 people held there as of December 2025, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency. The fighting and instability during the January escalation had a profound impact on children, many of whom were already struggling with years of violence, uncertainty and confinement. One mother described the lengths families had gone to prepare for the possibility of death or separation. Fearing her children could be taken or lost during an attack, she wrote the contact details of relatives in their country of origin on their arms so they could be identified if the family became separated. For many children, violence was not just around them. One witness described how a 12-year-old boy was sent back to his family with visible bruises from beatings and threats that he would be shot. Another case was reported where the personnel entered a family's tent during a night raid and allegedly beat a mother and her three daughters, aged 16, 13 and nine. "Her older two children were severely beaten. The mother herself was also severely beaten. With iron sticks. They took all the children with them," she said. Several women described being separated from family members without explanation. Mothers were allegedly taken to detention facilities and returned days or weeks later, while others reported similar experiences involving children. Some said family members came back showing signs of physical abuse. “The military took him away. About 12 years old. He was kept for about two to three days. The child is stressed. There are bruises of beatings on the body... they told him they would shoot him,” one woman recalled. Others said that children removed from their mothers were, in some cases, only returned after financial demands had been made. For the families who hoped to get information about the children taken, queries were met with threats. Describing one such time, "we gathered and went to their headquarters... but they pounced on us. If you don't leave, we'll keep the boys for another 10 days. " "Children are being exposed to experiences that no child should have to live through," Eriksson said. "We're not talking about a temporary emergency. We're talking about children who have spent years growing up behind fences. And it seems that the world has gradually become used to it and accepted this situation. " "It's very dark for many of these children because they're so young. " 'It is a lack of political will' For years, western governments argued that the presence of their citizens in camps such as Roj was difficult to resolve because the facilities were administered by non-state actors in northeast Syria. That argument no longer holds, according to the report. Developments since the fall of the Assad government and the January agreement between Damascus and the SDF have altered that landscape, creating new opportunities for repatriations. "The reason why some states are still reluctant to take responsibility is a lack of political will, although these individuals de facto have the right to return to their countries under international law," Eriksson told MEE. "We see now that the circumstances for repatriation of third-country nationals have developed in a more positive way than ever," she added. Eriksson said the growing role of the internationally recognised Syrian government in the northeast should make it easier for countries to engage diplomatically on the issue. "We're also setting our hope now on the government of Syria to actively participate in the resolution of this issue," she said. "It's no longer a non-state armed group keeping these families. It's the government of Syria, an internationally recognised entity that has diplomatic ties with most countries in the world. The solution is on the table. It just needs to be implemented. " Eriksson also pointed to what she described as an inconsistency in how European governments approach Syria. Many, she said, expect Damascus to accept Syrian nationals they wish to deport from Europe while refusing to repatriate their own citizens held in camps in northeastern Syria. "There's a lot of hypocrisy", she adds. The case for repatriation, Eriksson argued, is now stronger than at any point since the camps were established. "Governments must just take responsibility for their own citizens. If anyone is suspected of a crime, investigate them. If they can be prosecuted, prosecute them. But children shouldn't spend their entire childhood [detained] just because governments are reluctant to deal with a politically difficult issue. " RTC's report frames continued non-repatriation as something that "perpetuates harm and generational trauma", exposing people to "regular violence, deprivation, lack of education and healthcare, and heightened risks of exploitation, human trafficking and recruitment to non-state armed groups". "From a counterterrorism perspective, keeping individuals unlawfully detained under catastrophic circumstances is not risk reduction," the report states. "It is risk production. " Eriksson warned that this neglect carries its own danger. With the increase in aid being insufficient and some families unable to afford even basic medical care, citing a boy whose treatment left his family with a $1,000 bill they could not pay, mothers with no one abroad to send money are left exposed. "Where states fail to take responsibility", she said, there is a risk these women "would seek other actors for help", including IS and other armed groups that retain an interest in the population. "We need to break this cycle of violence. " Roj camp currently houses 2,373 people, making up about 769 households and representing 54 nationalities, with the vast majority being third-country nationals who are neither Syrian nor Iraqi. According to UN figures, children make up 63 percent of the camp’s population, women 35 percent, and men only two percent. Despite the diversity and number of residents, only two repatriations have occurred since January, both to Australia, one in April and one in May. Syria after Assad News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Military · Geopolitical

Hezbollah parliamentarian says ceasefire ‘meaningless’ while Israeli forces occupy Lebanon A senior Hezbollah lawmaker has ruled out a ceasefire with Israel while the Israeli army remains in Lebanese territory, warning that further aggression will be met with a response. “A ceasefire while the enemy continues its targeting and assassinations is meaningless,” a representative of Hezbollah in Lebanese parliament said in comments carried by Iranian media, adding that “the right of self defence is established for us and is not subject to bargaining or negotiation”. The parliamentarian said that the Iranian “military and diplomatic support for the Lebanese people” are key reasons for ensuring “an effective balance with the Zionist enemy” which can “open up the horizon for forcing it to leave our land”.

Military · Geopolitical

Bolivia’s crisis intensified on Saturday as President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency, enabling wider military ‌deployment to clear blockades and restore order after protests brought the economy to a halt over the past 50 days. The emergency declaration gives Paz broader constitutional tools to restore order, such as sending armed forces to clear blockades. While the order goes into effect immediately, the president must notify Congress of the state of emergency within 24 hours of...

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Majority of Americans say US action against Iran went too far A new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research has found that about two-thirds of Americans continue to disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of the war with Iran. Conducted after Trump indicated that an agreement with Tehran was close but before it was signed, the survey found that 65 percent of respondents disapproved of his approach, a figure largely unchanged from a similar poll conducted in May. The survey also highlighted a sharp partisan divide. While 92 percent of Democrats said they disapproved of Trump's handling of the conflict, only 28 percent of Republicans expressed the same view. When asked about US military action against Iran, 53 percent of respondents said it had "gone too far", compared with 25 percent who said it was "about right" and 18 percent who felt it had "not far enough". Woman wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat joins a pro-Israel and pro-US gathering outside the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles, 5 March 2026 (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP)

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Morning update Good morning Middle East Eye readers, The US-Iran agreement moved into a new phase as both sides signalled readiness for further diplomacy, while a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah appeared to take effect after days of renewed violence. Tehran said Washington must ensure Israel complies with the terms of the deal, particularly in Lebanon, as preparations were made for another round of negotiations in Switzerland. Here are the latest updates: Iran's deputy foreign minister said Tehran is ready to move forward with diplomacy but expects the United States to ensure Israel ends attacks in Lebanon. A US official said Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire after Israeli attacks reportedly killed at least 47 people in Lebanon. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said Washington has a responsibility to implement the agreement on all fronts, including Lebanon. Axios reported that US envoy Steve Witkoff and Araghchi are expected to travel to Switzerland for a new round of talks. President Donald Trump said shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has surged, claiming roughly 700 vessels are now transiting the waterway. Israel's ambassador to Washington said offensive operations in Lebanon were halted beginning Friday morning Washington time. The White House confirmed the United States will host a fifth round of Lebanon-Israel negotiations aimed at sustaining the ceasefire. UK Maritime trade organisation lowered its threat assessment for the Strait of Hormuz from high to moderate as maritime traffic continues to recover. Iran's military said its combat readiness remains unchanged despite the diplomatic progress and ceasefire efforts. Regional mediators, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, are due to meet in Egypt's Alamein on June 21 to discuss implementation of the agreement and wider regional stability.

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Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz declared a state of emergency on Saturday, granting broader powers to deploy the military and clear road blockades after nearly two months of protests paralysed the economy and fuelled demands for his resignation.

Military · Geopolitical

Iranian military says combat readiness remains unchanged Iran's Army reaffirmed its readiness to defend the country's security, sovereignty and national interests in the event of any violation of the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States. In a statement issued on Friday, the military said its forces remain fully alert, "with hands on the trigger and ears attuned to the orders of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief", despite the agreement aimed at ending hostilities. The statement said Iranian armed forces would continue strengthening their capabilities and were prepared to protect the country's security and interests if "the enemy betrays its commitments". It added that the "steadfast resistance of the Iranian people" and the sacrifices of the armed forces had compelled the enemy "to respect the great Iranian nation and accept the path of ceasefire and understanding". Iranian Army chief Amir Hatami attends a meeting in the Army’s War Command Room on 23 June 2025 (Iranian Army Media Office/AFP)

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Hezbollah says it repelled Israeli advance in southern Lebanon Hezbollah said its fighters repelled an Israeli armoured and infantry force attempting to advance near the Ali al-Tahir Heights in southern Lebanon, claiming the troops were drawn into a "killing zone" during clashes on Friday. According to media reports, fighters engaged the force after it entered the area, destroying three Merkava tanks with guided missiles and continuing the attack with rocket and artillery fire. The reports said Hezbollah also detonated explosive devices against advancing Israeli armour, setting one tank on fire. The group claimed Israeli forces had been attempting to advance on the area for six consecutive days. Hezbollah further said it targeted a second Israeli force that was trying to evacuate casualties under smoke cover, striking it with rockets and mortar shells and reporting direct hits. Israeli army Humvee patrols along the northern border with Lebanon in the Upper Galilee, 18 June 2026 (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

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Iranian official US and Israel lost control as war progressed An adviser to Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei said the United States emerged weakened from the recent conflict with Iran and that Washington and Israel gradually lost control of events as the war unfolded. According to Press TV, Mohsen Rezaei, a former commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), made the remarks during a televised interview on Friday, arguing that by the fifteenth day of the conflict the United States and Israel had realised that the situation was no longer under their control. Rezaei attributed the outcome to a combination of factors, including political divisions within the United States, military challenges, international pressure and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to the conflict. He said congressional obstacles, limited support from allies and diplomatic pressure from countries including Spain contributed to what he described as a strategic deadlock. According to Press TV, Rezaei said that these factors ultimately left Washington and Israel in a weaker position and helped bring about the ceasefire announced on 7 April.

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UKMTO lowers Strait of Hormuz threat level to moderate The UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) has lowered its threat assessment for the Strait of Hormuz to "moderate", down from the "substantial" level it warned of two days earlier. In its latest advisory, the agency said the southern route through the strategic waterway, which runs close to Oman, remains open for transit both day and night. However, UKMTO cautioned that mariners should remain vigilant. "Mariners should be advised of the existence of mines and expect naval presence as clearance operations continue," the advisory said. The agency also "strongly" recommended that vessels use the Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping system, a Nato-developed mechanism designed to coordinate between military operations and commercial shipping.

Military · Geopolitical

Iran lawmaker warns US over ceasefire violations The head of the Iranian parliament’s national security committee has accused the Trump administration of failing to honour the opening clause of its memorandum of understanding with Tehran. Ebrahim Azizi said the first clause requires both sides to agree to “the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon”. In a post on X, Azizi said Washington’s conduct showed it had not met that obligation. “America’s failure to commit to the first clause of the agreement demonstrates that America still lacks the will to gain the trust of the Iranian nation,” Azizi wrote on X. He warned that continued violations would carry consequences. “The continuation of this situation will come at a heavy cost to them, the first of which will be an intelligent and deterrent response to the violation of the agreement’s commitments,” he said.

Military · Geopolitical

Trump boasts of Iran attacks at Air Force One event US President Donald Trump said the United States has “had a lot of victories” during a speech marking the unveiling of a new Air Force One aircraft gifted by Qatar. Trump used the ceremony, held for the plane that will replace the aircraft used to transport US presidents, to boast about US military power and predict a sharp fall in oil prices. “You’re going to see oil drop so low, I hope the companies are happy about it,” he said. He then pointed to the US war with Iran as proof of Washington’s military dominance. “We have the greatest military in the world. You saw that in Iran, in one week, virtually, we knocked out their entire navy, their entire air force, their radar. We wiped out everything,” he said.

Military · Geopolitical

Trump heads to Camp David as Iran talks stall US President Donald Trump will travel to Camp David this weekend, making only his second visit to the presidential retreat since returning to office last year. A White House official told Reuters that Trump will hold policy and political meetings during the trip. His family will also join him for the weekend, which includes Father’s Day on Sunday. The visit comes as Trump pushes for a final agreement to end the war with Iran. Planned US-Iran talks in Switzerland on Friday were cancelled after fighting intensified in Lebanon despite reports of a ceasefire. The escalation has added fresh uncertainty over the timing of negotiations, which Washington sees as central to reopening the Strait of Hormuz to global shipping and restoring stability across the Middle East. Trump last visited Camp David in June 2025, when he met senior military officials and foreign policy advisers to discuss immigration protests in California, Iran and Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza.

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UN calls on RSF to cease imminent offensive on Sudan’s el-Obeid Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 19:22 The United Nations' Volker Turk warned that a siege could lead to a repeat of the atrocities that took place in el-Fasher People are transported in the back of a truck, some 30 kilometres east of the city of el-Obeid, in Sudan's North Kordofan region, on 9 January 2023 (Ashraf Shazly/AFP) Off The United Nations has issued an urgent warning saying that Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) could imminently lay siege to el-Obeid, risking large-scale atrocities. El-Obeid is the capital of the North Kordofan state in Sudan. “We have seen this playbook before,” the UN high commissioner for human rights, Volker Turk, said, referring to North Darfur’s capital el-Fasher. “We know where it led then, and cannot now allow a repeat of the preventable atrocities we documented in el-Fasher and Zamzam IDP camp. ” El-Fasher fell to the RSF in October 2025, following an eighteen-month siege, which Middle East Eye reported caused widespread massacres, mass rapes, and looting by the RSF. The UN concluded that these actions “bore the hallmarks of genocide”. Turk stressed that people across Kordofan face grave danger “in the absence of action to halt the imminent offensive and further military escalation”.. push({}); The warning comes amid a significant buildup of RSF troops and intensified artillery shelling and drone strikes in el-Obeid. According to reports from the Ayin Network, consistent drone strikes targeting fuel stations and trucks have triggered an “acute fuel crisis”. The crisis has paralysed local public transit and disrupted water treatment facilities, forcing residents to navigate el-Obeid on foot or in donkey-drawn carts, as they attempt to flee towards the neighbouring White Nile State. The RSF can take control of the Kordofan region through a siege on el-Obeid. It has strongholds in the Jabal Abu Sunun area, 40 kilometres to the west of el-Obeid; the Kazqil area, 70 kilometres to the south; and the city of Bara, 60 kilometres north. Sudanese victims ask ICC to investigate Emiratis over RSF atrocities in el-Fasher Read More » Fearing a repeat of the violence in el-Fasher, the Coalition for Atrocity Prevention and Justice for Sudan, comprising Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, presented a joint statement to the UN Human Rights Council on Thursday. Backed by 21 other countries, the coalition demanded that the RSF cease its assault on el-Obeid and called on all parties to “descalate” and adhere to international humanitarian law. They urged foreign states to apply maximum pressure on the RSF, the Sudanese Armed Forces, and their respective allies to prevent atrocities. However, the document notably avoided naming the United Arab Emirates, which Middle East Eye has reported provides financial and military backing to the RSF through a network of supply routes spanning Libya, Chad, Uganda, and the breakaway regions of Somalia. They urged all parties to de-escalate and adhere to international humanitarian law, demanding that states apply maximum pressure on the “Rapid Support Forces, Sudanese Armed Forces, and their allies to prevent atrocities and protect civilians”. UNHCR did not respond to MEE's requests for comment by the time of publication. Sudan war News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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An organisation in 'crisis': Jewish anti-Zionists hit back at Board of Deputies Submitted by Fleur Hargreaves on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 16:04 Pro-Palestine groups contest the Board of Deputies of British Jews' statement about its protest outside the Great Israeli Real Estate Event Demonstrators and counter-demonstrators face off outside the Great Israeli Real Estate Event (Maya Saad/MEE) Off Anti-Zionist Jewish groups have responded to the statement issued by the Board of Deputies of British Jews condemning its protest outside a Great Israeli Real Estate Event in London on Sunday. The demonstration was co-organised by the groups Jewish Anti-Zionist Action (JAZA), International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN) and the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) to oppose the sale of land and properties, including illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, promoted at the event. In its statement, the Board of Deputies attempted to claim the event, which was hosted by the Edgware United Synagogue in northwest London, did not market any real estate over the Green Line - the 1949 armistice line separating Israel from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The board said the protests were “wholly unjustified” and intended to “harass and intimidate members of the Jewish community”, without acknowledging that many protestors were from the local Jewish community themselves. Despite Sky News revealing images that contradict its claims and property event organisers being forced to apologise for listing West Bank settlements as illegal under international law, the Board of Deputies has neither retracted nor corrected its statement.. push({}); Jewish protesters say that the Board of Deputies, a representative body made up of elected members from synagogues and Jewish organisations, can no longer seek to describe itself as “the voice of the British Jewish Community”. Dora, who is Jewish and grew up in the area, obtained marketing materials after signing up for the event with other JAZA members, before they were kicked out for disrupting it. She told Middle East Eye that “categorically speaking, there was illegal land sale happening, because I picked up the leaflets, the brochure, and have videos of the stalls in the main room”. On top of physical evidence, Dora also told MEE that she had a covert conversation with one of the stalls about properties that they “weren’t allowed to” advertise in what they called “Judea and Samaria”, the Israeli name for the occupied West Bank. “They don’t see anything wrong, because they believe that the land is theirs”, she explained, which is why there was a “hush, hush, giggly, under the table, ‘that’s fine’ attitude” from the vendors.. push({}); MEE contacted the Board of Deputies for comment, but had received no response at the time of publication. Board of Deputies allying itself with a ‘fascist mob’ The event drew pro-Israel counter-protesters who MEE journalists witnessed attacking and verbally abusing pro-Palestinian demonstrators, as well as the presence of the Metropolitan Police Service. One counter-protester was videoed taunting attendees with a photo of a dead Palestinian child. Max Hammer, who is also a member of JAZA, referred to the counter-protesters as exhibiting “the behaviour of a fascist mob” who “did everything they could to exert as much violence on us as possible before the police arrived”. He described witnessing counter-protesters singing Tommy Robinson chants, and wearing Trump hats and Jewish Defense League (JDL) T-shirts. JDL has been classified as a “right-wing terrorist group” by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2001. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Middle East Eye (@middleeasteye) Hammer said that the board, by aligning itself with the counter-protesters organised by Stop the Hate, have chosen to “legitimise far-right violence” and “aggressively shore up its position by making common cause with street fascists”.. push({}); He said that this is proof that the organisation is in “crisis” from “twisting itself into knots in order to defend a state that has shown itself to be committing a genocide in Gaza”. As a result, it has “found itself at odds with increasing parts of the Jewish community” as well as society as a whole, which has turned against Israel, forcing it to “find allies in ever more repugnant places” because “the alternative would be to confront the moral rot at the heart of Zionism and the far-right politics that Zionism has become synonymous with”. “The only saving grace is that by making it increasingly clear that upholding a Zionist position means collaborating with far-right groups… They are doing the work of the Jewish left for them, by making it very evident how morally bankrupt this project is. ” Hammer described witnessing “two visions” for the Jewish community: “either a multiracial coalition of Jewish people standing alongside other minority groups fighting for human rights” or “on the other side… a project of fascism, united by the belief that it’s destroy or be destroyed”. "Increasingly it is becoming untenable to occupy a middle ground," Hammer said, adding that "the Board of Deputies has shown which vision it prefers". Jewish safety Joshua Gottlieb, a member of the Jewish organisation Na’amod, described the event as “using synagogues as cover, laundering their reputation through synagogues… to sell illegal settlements in a place of God”. “How can you say that you support Jewish safety? " He asked. "Think about how that portrays Jewish people. ” In fact, he told MEE that he “faced extra threat” from counter-protesters because he was wearing a kippah and was physically attacked as a result. Gottlieb described the Board of Deputies' "disingenuous" statement as "part of an ecosystem that meant on Sunday I was threatened and harassed by people who... wanted to hurt me". He accused the Board of Deputies of being “part of that propaganda, which is creating violence against Jewish people”. “It is becoming increasingly clear to everyone that the Board of Deputies does not speak for all Jews”, he added. In the lead-up to the event, it sparked widespread condemnation from over 100 UK MPs and peers. London mayor Sadiq Khan, Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Amnesty International UK called for it to be cancelled. London synagogue reported to Charity Commission over event promoting Israeli settlement property Read More » However, despite the political and media pressure, the event went ahead. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper referred the incident to the Advertising Standards Authority, while Polanski called the measure “inadequate” and said the incident should be investigated by the Met due to “clear evidence” of unlawful activity. For Gottlieb, the fact that the event went ahead despite such criticism, while Cooper purported to impose sanctions on illegal settlements, shows how “hollow” the government’s words were. Jeanine Hourani, a representative of PYM, told MEE that they had “wanted to apply a multi-pronged strategy to get the event cancelled” before it took place, but had been left with no alternative except to mobilise, arguing that “when the government doesn’t do its job, then people have to take matters into their own hands”. “It is important for us as Palestinians living in Britain to say that we will not accept the sale of land that was stolen from our parents’ and grandparents’ generation to happen on our watch in London… not just in settlements but across historic Palestine. ” Hourani was disappointed by some of the media framing that sought to reduce the campaign to a “brawl outside of a synagogue” and was missing vital context, including that grassroots organisations, legal groups, parliamentarians and leading human rights organisations had called for the event to be cancelled before its location was known. In spite of this support, police arrested protesters who were being assaulted rather than protecting them, which, she said, made it "clear whose interests they are serving". Oscar Leyens, an organiser with IJAN, told MEE that the mainstream media and political class have “treated the Board of Deputies line as authoritative” in speaking for an increasingly polarised British Jewry, allowing it to “play a very prominent role… to justify expanding the military industrial complex and the repression of the growing anti-Zionist movement”. But now, Leyens says the board has been “totally exposed” as “craven liars”. The Board of Deputies recently released a statement celebrating the Court of Appeal's decision to uphold the ban on Palestine Action, presenting the group's targeting of Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems as an attack on "Jewish-owned businesses". The board also invited Reform UK’s Nigel Farage, who was accused by a Jewish former schoolmate of saying “Hitler was right”, to an antisemitism rally. It did not extend the invitation to Polanski, the only Jewish leader of a political party. “Reform’s agenda is ethno-nationalist, and so is the agenda of Zionism. Judaism is deployed as a cover for contributions to the genocide of the Palestinian people,” Leyens explained. For him, “the Jewish experience in history can speak to and inform our anti-Zionism in many ways” because it reflects a tradition of resisting “Nazism, fascism and racism”. “The acts we take in the International [Jewish] Anti-Zionist Network are in line with the struggle of the oppressed” because “we believe in the politics of collective liberation”: fighting for “a fully liberated Palestine, including the right to return, from the river to the sea”. Antisemitism News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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'All of Lebanon must burn,' Israeli minister Ben Gvir declares Submitted by Ayse Betul on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 15:47 A social media clash between senior Israeli and Iranian ministers broke out just hours before Israel and Hezbollah announced a ceasefire Smoke rises after an Israeli bombardment in southern Lebanon, 19 June 2026 (Jalaa Marey/AFP) Off Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said "all of Lebanon must burn" in a social media post after the deaths of four Israeli soldiers in southern Lebanon, drawing a response from the Iranian foreign minister, who labelled the Israeli leadership a "threat to all of humanity". “For every tear of an Israeli mother, a thousand Lebanese mothers should cry," Ben Gvir wrote on X on Friday. "With all due respect to the Americans, Israel must make it clear to the entire world that the blood of our sons and the security of our citizens is not in vain. All of Lebanon should burn. " He openly stated that he has pushed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to abandon “measured” military strategies in the region. “Enough with the ping-pong. Erase. ”. In the Middle East, you don't win with measured responses and containment - you have to go crazy. Defeat terrorism. push({}); Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded directly to Ben Gvir's post on X, saying that the comments should be viewed as official state rhetoric. "This is not a rant by a random genocidal lunatic. It's a public post by the national security minister of the Israeli regime," Araghchi posted, characterising the Israeli leadership as “a genocidal death cult headquartered in Tel Aviv” and as “a threat to all of humanity”. “It threatens all humans. Its only interest is permanent war. ” Ben Gvir’s comments were closely mirrored by fellow far-right cabinet member, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who similarly called on Israel to "open the gates of hell" on Lebanon in a social media post the same day. Some other senior Israeli officials have openly said that troops will remain in southern Lebanon indefinitely, following the deaths of four Israeli soldiers there on Friday, including a battalion commander.. push({}); Despite the signing of the memorandum of understanding on Thursday, which effectively implements a ceasefire on all fronts, including Lebanon, strikes between the Israeli military and Hezbollah continued overnight. Lebanon's death toll on Friday due to Israeli airstrikes has risen to 47 killed since midnight. The sharp social media exchange came just hours ahead of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah on Friday, which is expected to end some of the heaviest killings between the two sides since the start of the war. However, Israel has conducted at least 12 strikes on southern Lebanon since the announcement of the ceasefire with Hezbollah in the afternoon, according to Al Jazeera reports. Ceasefire challenges Israel’s expanding military presence in Lebanon and the intensifying air strikes across southern and eastern parts of the country have been a challenging factor for the ceasefire talks between Iran and the US, negotiated by partners including Pakistan and Qatar.. push({}); The Lebanon front had become a major point of confrontation between the Trump administration and the Israeli government. Donald Trump, the US president, has recently criticised the killings of civilians in Lebanon by the Israeli army, which claims to be striking Hezbollah bases only, and signalled that Israeli attacks in Lebanon threatened to derail the final agreement, which he said was “not easy” to complete. Throughout the ceasefire efforts, Israel repeatedly rejected calls from the US as well as other G7 countries to withdraw troops from southern Lebanon. Meanwhile, Hezbollah has been calling on the Lebanese government to reject any direct negotiations with Israel while Israeli attacks on Lebanon continue. But the Lebanese government was openly hopeful that the US-Iran deal could end the hostilities in the region. Lebanon's Ministry of Health says Israeli attacks since 2 March across the country have killed at least 3,696 people and injured 11,413 others. Israel's war on Lebanon News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

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Israel and Hezbollah agree ceasefire after escalation threatens US-Iran deal Submitted by Adam Chamseddine on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 13:36 Israeli strikes kill at least 47 people, as Hezbollah ambush troops near strategic Ali al-Taher point Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following an Israeli strike, as seen from Nabatieh, southern Lebanon, on 19 June 2026 (Reuters) Off Israel and Lebanon 's Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire on Friday, after a sharp escalation in fighting threatened to unravel a fragile regional truce, a day after the United States and Iran signed an agreement to end the war. A source familiar with Hezbollah confirmed to Middle East Eye that the ceasefire, which went into effect at 4pm local time, was reached after intensive calls and deliberations led by the US and Iran. The source said the agreement came after Tehran threatened not to attend talks with the US in Geneva following the Israeli attacks in Lebanon. "The ceasefire is contingent on Israel adhering to it," he said. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that Israel and Hezbollah were in a ceasefire as long as Hezbollah does not attack Israel, adding that Israeli forces would stay in areas they have occupied in south Lebanon. Fighting in Lebanon intensified on Thursday night, when Hezbollah attacked Israeli forces attempting to advance near Ali al-Taher, a highly strategic position close to the southern city of Nabatieh.. push({}); The Israeli military said four soldiers, including a battalion commander, were killed and several others wounded. Hezbollah said its fighters had carried out ambushes and drone attacks against Israeli troops advancing through the area. Israel responded with a wide wave of air strikes across southern and eastern Lebanon, saying it struck more than 80 targets. Lebanon's health ministry said at least 47 people were killed and 39 wounded in strikes on 11 towns since midnight. The ministry said the ongoing bombardment was obstructing rescue operations and warned that the number of casualties was expected to rise. Seven people were killed in Harouf, a village in southern Lebanon, while others were believed to be trapped beneath the rubble, health ministry sources told MEE.. push({}); Lebanon's state-run National News Agency reported heavy displacement from the southern districts of Tyre and Bint Jbeil, with residents fleeing north as Israeli attacks intensified. Many of those fleeing had only recently returned to their villages following the US-Iran interim agreement reached on Monday. The Israeli strikes were among the deadliest since Washington and Tehran announced the deal intended to halt fighting across the region, including in Lebanon. Battle for Ali al-Taher A second source familiar with Hezbollah told MEE that the scale and geographical spread of Israel's latest attacks indicated that the attacks were not simply retaliation for the deaths of the Israeli soldiers as it claimed. "Israel wants to sabotage the agreement reached between the US and Iran," the source said. The memorandum of understanding agreed between the US and Iran has provoked outrage in Israel, where it is widely seen as handing an effective victory to Tehran.. push({}); "What is happening has nothing to do with the ambush its forces encountered after attempting to approach the strategically important Ali al-Taher position, near the city of Nabatieh. Ceasefires and construction: Satellite images reveal how Israel is cementing its presence in Lebanon and Syria Read More » "If this were merely a response to the ambush, then why did Israel also strike Baalbek and the Bekaa Valley in eastern Lebanon? " According to the source, Israeli troop movements, advances and bombardment suggested that the military was attempting to seize Ali al-Taher. The position overlooks large parts of the Nabatieh district and the Iqlim al-Tuffah region, giving whoever controls it a commanding view of a significant stretch of southern Lebanon. "Israel considers it strategically significant because of its location within the area it is attempting to control, which it has described as the 'Yellow Line'," the source said. "Control of this position would allow Israel to overlook the entirety of the Nabatieh district and the Iqlim area, as part of an attempt to consolidate its presence in the same territory it occupied before Lebanon's liberation in 2000. " The escalation came a day after Israel published a map showing an expanded area of military deployment in southern Lebanon, extending towards the outskirts of Nabatieh, north of the Litani River. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz emphasised the territorial nature of the operation in an interview on Israeli television, saying that the most important military objective was to hold territory. Katz said the Israeli military was destroying villages in areas it occupied and would not permit residents to return. "The 200,000 residents who lived in the security zone are not returning. None of them are returning," he said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had ordered attacks against dozens of Hezbollah targets following the deaths of the four soldiers. He added that Israeli forces would remain inside the southern Lebanon security zone "for as long as necessary". National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, meanwhile, struck an inflammatory tone, declaring that "all of Lebanon must burn". US-Israel disagreement Asked whether Hezbollah believed Israel was escalating with US approval, the second source said the group increasingly regarded the disagreement between Netanyahu's government and the US administration as genuine. That assessment contrasts with a longstanding belief among Hezbollah supporters that public disagreements between Israel and the US often mask broad alignment on strategic objectives. President Donald Trump said Washington expected a complete ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. France also called on the US to intervene to prevent the fighting from escalating further. 'Israel is weaker': Israeli political class reacts angrily to the US-Iran peace deal Read More » The renewed violence on Friday disrupted diplomacy between Washington and Tehran as talks in Geneva were scrapped. A third source familiar with Hezbollah said Tehran had assured the group it would not conclude a final agreement with Washington without provisions addressing Lebanon. According to the source, Iran would not sign a deal unless there was "a complete and comprehensive cessation of hostilities against Lebanon across all Lebanese territory", alongside a commitment to a full Israeli withdrawal. Asked whether indirect communication between Hezbollah and the US was continuing, the source said he would "neither confirm nor deny" that such contacts were taking place. He added that when American officials wanted to communicate with Hezbollah, "they know exactly which channels to use". Hezbollah rejects negotiations Hezbollah accused Israel of repeatedly breaching both the Lebanon ceasefire, as well as the new US-Iran deal, as it continues to kill civilians, destroy villages and press ahead with its ground invasion. The third source said Hezbollah is still opposed to further rounds of direct negotiations between Lebanon and Israel in Washington, and did not consider itself bound by that process. He added that the group had received several indications and messages suggesting that the US itself was no longer interested in, or committed to, the proposed negotiations. The latest fighting has exposed the central divide underlying efforts to bring the conflict to an end. Israel says it intends to retain territory and prevent displaced Lebanese residents from returning to the border region. Hezbollah says no final regional agreement can be accepted without an end to Israeli attacks and a complete withdrawal from Lebanon. As thousands of residents again flee southern towns, the confrontation around Ali al-Taher has become both a battle over strategic territory and an immediate test for the US-Iran agreement negotiations. War on Iran Beirut News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

Military · Geopolitical

US-Iran peace deal: Six things we learned from the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding Submitted by Daniel Tester on Fri, 06/19/2026 - 14:26 The deal - intended to end the war between Israel, the US and Iran, including opening the Strait of Hormuz - may still face issues US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian separately signed a deal on 17 June 2026 to end the war in the Middle East (AFP composite/X Emanuel Macron/IRINN) On Talks between the US and Iran on a final settlement to end the war have been postponed. Washington announced late on Thursday that Vice President JD Vance would not travel to Switzerland for negotiations as the logistics had not been "simple or predictable". US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian separately signed a peace deal, called the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), on Wednesday to end the war that has devastated the Middle East since late February. The 14-point document, the full text of which is below, provides a framework to end the conflict and restart oil trade around the Persian Gulf. However, negotiations on the thorniest issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme, have been deferred to a 60-day negotiating period, which the deal states is “extendable by mutual consent”. The deal contains several concessions to Iran, but the US has presented it as an ultimatum. “We’re going to bomb the hell out ​of them if they violate the agreement,” Trump said at a press conference on Wednesday. 1. “I don’t want them to. I want them to honour the agreement,” he added. Here is what we have learned from the MoU. The Strait of Hormuz will reopen for now Vessels are seen anchored in Bandar Abbas off the Strait of Hormuz on 18 June 2026 (ISNA/AFP) The strait is a key waterway linking the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman, through which around one-fifth of global oil shipments pass. But it has been effectively blockaded by Iran since the start of the war, causing oil prices to surge. The MoU states that Iran “will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge, for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa”. The first maritime traffic restarted only hours after the deal was signed, with three Saudi -flagged supertankers sailing through the strait on Thursday morning. While the MoU states that Iran will not charge tolls during the 60-day negotiating period, the long-term future is less clear. Trump said in an interview with The New York Times on Sunday that the peace agreement would ensure that the strait was “permanently toll-free”. But Iran said on Thursday that it plans to introduce “fees” for ships passing through the strait. The MoU itself offers little clarity. 2. It states only that Iran will “conduct dialogue with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz”. The US will lift sanctions, but not invest An Iranian man shops in a local market after the collapse of the rial, in Tehran on 5 January 2026 (Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency via Reuters) The MoU includes several measures that will offer economic relief to Iran, where a US naval blockade on exports during the war has compounded years of US sanctions. In exchange for the free passage of ships through the strait, the MoU states that the US is to “immediately” dismantle its naval blockade, with full US withdrawal following 30 days after signing. The US began removing the blockade on Friday morning. The MoU also states that the US will “terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the final deal”. Discussing the deal on Wednesday, Trump said: “We have sanctions that will never let them rebuild. ” He added that if the US continued its current measures, “there would be poverty, then 91m people would starve”. The MoU also states that the US will “undertake” to release Iran’s frozen assets, some of which it has held since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. “The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during negotiations,” the document states. Also promised is that the US will provide “at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran”. But the White House has sent mixed messages about this fund since Vance first discussed it on Monday. Later that day, Vance said that the US “would invite other countries, not us, but other countries, to invest”. 3. Trump echoed this on Tuesday, saying in a press conference that the US is “not investing ten cents” in Iran. There will be a ceasefire in Lebanon The aftermath of an Israeli air strike in Sidon, Lebanon, on 10 June 2026 (AFP) The first paragraph of the MoU states that there will be an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon ”. It also says that Iran and the US will commit to “ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon”. But the MoU does not mention Israel, which has drastically expanded its invasion of southern Lebanon since March to purge Hezbollah. Israel now occupies around a fifth of the country. Israel has also increased its bombing, killing over 3,000 people since March in violation of several ceasefire agreements. The bombing continued on Thursday and Friday morning despite the MoU. This week, the Israeli government officials cast doubt on whether it would withdraw from Lebanon without its long-term goal of fully disarming Hezbollah. Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, said on Monday: "Trump's agreement does not bind us... We are not party to this agreement. It does not safeguard our security. “We must not compromise on anything less than the dismantling of Hezbollah. ” And Defence Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Israeli forces would remain "indefinitely" within what Israel calls its “security zones” in Syria, Lebanon and Gaza. Trump criticised Israeli conduct in Lebanon at the G7 on Tuesday, amid an apparent fallout with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 4. "You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody, because there are a lot ​of people in those apartment houses, and they're not all Hezbollah," he said, adding that Israel had been fighting in Lebanon for "too long". No nuclear deal yet Satellite images of destroyed vehicles at the Pickaxe Mountain (Mount Kolang Gaz La) complex near the Natanz Nuclear Facility in Isfahan province, central Iran, on 7 March 2026 (AFP/Vantor) The MoU postpones talks on Iran’s stockpiles of enriched uranium, which the US has long seen as evidence that Tehran wants to develop nuclear weapons. The document says that the US and Iran “have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon,” adding that a "satisfactory framework” will be “agreed upon in the final deal”. The US and Israel have long opposed Iran developing nuclear weapons and cited this as a major reason for their bombing campaign. But Iran has long denied that it is developing nuclear weapons - something emphasised in the MoU, which states that “Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons”. Trump reiterated on Tuesday that the “main thing” was ensuring that “Iran will not have a nuclear weapon”. “They fully agreed to that with strong policing powers,” he said. “Which is what it was all about, because they probably would have used it if they had it. ” On the table over the next 60 days will be the fate of Iran’s uranium stockpiles, which are presently understood to be enriched to around 70 percent. This is far more potent than the 5 percent needed to generate nuclear energy, but still short of the 90 percent needed for nuclear weapons. Iran agreed to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium on 26 February, two days before the war began. 5. The US is understood to prefer Iran to export its uranium to a third-party state, which Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei reportedly ruled out last week. No mention of Iran’s ballistic missiles A Syrian farmer looks at an Iranian missile that fell on agricultural land in Najha, near Damascus, on 8 June 2026 (AFP) No reference is made in the MoU to limiting Iran’s arsenal of ballistic missiles, which Washington had previously cited as a war objective. In March, Trump said that US intervention in Iran was justified because it had developed “missiles capable of hitting Europe and our bases, both local and overseas, and would soon have had missiles capable of reaching our beautiful America”. At the start of the war, Iran was estimated to have more than 3,000 ballistic missiles, giving it the largest arsenal in the Middle East, although that stockpile has since been significantly depleted. Trump appeared to change his stance this week, saying on Wednesday that “if other countries have them [ballistic missiles], it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some”. ” 6. “Missiles are not the problem,” he added during his G7 summit speech on Tuesday. “They hurt a little location, but they don’t blow up the planet. No talk of Iranian regime change People mourn Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, killed in joint US-Israeli strikes, at a square in Tehran on 1 March 2026 (AFP/Atta Kenare) Wholly absent from the MoU is any mention of what many see as the US and Israel’s ultimate goal: regime change in Tehran. Rather, the MoU states that the US and Iran “undertake to respect each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs”. Trump claimed at the G7 summit that he “never cared about regime change” in Iran. He then praised Iran’s current leadership, now headed by Mojtaba Khamenei after the US assassination of his father, long-time Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, on 28 February. “I think they’re very smart,” he said on Tuesday. “I think they're far less radicalised; I think they’re good. “Frankly, I think that’s regime change. ” At the start of the war, Trump called on Iranians to rebel against the country’s clerical government. “To the great, proud people of Iran, I say tonight that the hour of your freedom is at hand,” he said in an address on 28 February. “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. ” Full text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, as published by the US 1. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran and their allies in the current war are signing this MoU to declare the immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon, and undertake from now on not to initiate any war or any military operation against each other, and to refrain from the threat or use of force against each other, and ensuring the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Lebanon. 2. The final deal will confirm the permanent termination of the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon and other provisions of this paragraph. 3. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran undertake to respect each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and to refrain from interfering in each other’s internal affairs. 4. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran commit to negotiating and achieving the final deal in maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent. Immediately upon the signing of this MoU, the United States of America will begin the removal of its naval blockade and any disturbances or impediments against the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will fully end the naval blockade within 30 days. During this period, the traffic of vessels will be in proportion to the numbers of pre-war traffic being restored by the Islamic Republic of Iran. 5. The United States of America further undertakes to remove its forces from the proximity of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 30 days after the final deal. Upon the signing of this MoU, the Islamic Republic of Iran will make arrangements using its best efforts for the safe passage of commercial vessels with no charge, for 60 days only, from the Persian Gulf to the Sea of Oman and vice versa. The traffic of commercial vessels will immediately start, and considering the need for removing the technical and military obstacles, and demining by the Islamic Republic of Iran will be instated within 30 days. 6. The Islamic Republic of Iran will conduct dialog with the Sultanate of Oman to define the future administration and maritime services in the Strait of Hormuz in discussion with other Persian Gulf littoral states in line with the applicable international law and the sovereign rights of coastal states of the Strait of Hormuz. The United States of America undertakes with regional partners to develop a definitive, mutually agreed plan with at least USD 300 billion for the reconstruction and economic development of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The mechanism for the implementation of this plan will be finalized as part of a final deal within 60 days. 7. All required licenses, waivers and permissions needed for the relevant financial transactions will be granted by the United States of America. The United States of America undertakes to terminate all types of sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the United Nations Security Council resolutions, IAEA Board of Governors resolutions, and all unilateral US sanctions, primary and secondary, in an agreed upon schedule as part of the final deal. 8. The Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America acknowledge the critical importance of the sanctions termination issue above mentioned, and expressed their intentions to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. The Islamic Republic of Iran reaffirms that it shall not procure or develop nuclear weapons. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran have agreed to resolve the disposition of stockpiled enriched material pursuant to a mechanism that will be mutually agreed upon in accordance with the schedule mentioned in paragraph seven, with the minimum methodology to be down blended on site under the supervision of the IAEA. The two parties also agreed to discuss the issue of enrichment and other mutually agreed matters related to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s nuclear needs, based on a satisfactory framework being agreed upon in the final deal. The final deal will confirm the provisions of this paragraph. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran acknowledge the critical importance of the nuclear issues above mentioned. 9. They express their intention to immediately address these issues in the negotiations in order to achieve mutual agreement on them. Pending the final deal, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree to maintain the status quo. 10. The Islamic Republic of Iran will maintain the current status quo of its nuclear program, and the United States of America will not impose any new sanctions and will not deploy additional forces in the region. 11. The United States of America undertakes that immediately upon the signing of this MoU and until the termination of sanctions, US Department of Treasury will issue waivers for the export of Iranian crude oil, petroleum products and derivatives, and all associated services, including banking transactions, insurances, transportation, etc. The United States of America undertakes to make fully available for use the frozen or restricted funds and assets of the Islamic Republic of Iran upon the implementation of this MoU. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will mutually agree on the procedures related to the release of these funds during negotiations. Such funds, whether retained in the original account or transferred, shall be made fully usable for payment to any ultimate beneficiary designated by the Central Bank of the Islamic Republic of Iran. 12. The United States of America undertakes to issue all necessary licenses and authorizations accordingly. 13. The United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran agree that an executive mechanism will be established to monitor the successful implementation of this MoU and the future compliance of the final deal. 14. After signing this MoU, and subject to the beginning of the implementation of paragraphs 1, 4, 5, 10 and 11 of this MoU, and the continuing implementation of these measures, the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran will start negotiations regarding the final deal exclusively on the other paragraphs. The final deal will be endorsed by a binding UN Security Council resolution. War on Iran US-Iran peace deal: Six things we learned Explainers Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0

Military · Geopolitical

Israeli forces detain and attack Palestinians in occupied West Bank Israeli forces detained three young Palestinian men and attacked others with tear gas and sound bombs at a picnic site near Bethlehem, occupied West Bank, according to Wafa news agency. Wafa reported that the Israeli military also arrested a young man in a raid near Jenin, and conducted a raid on Qalqilya city.

Military · Geopolitical

Four Israeli strikes reported in southern Lebanon after ceasefire implementation Israeli forces have conducted at least four strikes in Southern Lebanon after the ceasefire agreement took effect at 4 PM local time, Al Jazeera reported. Israeli launched two strikes in Kfar Tebnit, and one in Nabatieh and in Kfar Sir, according to the report. Al Jazeera also reported that an Israeli military spokesperson stated that Israeli forces maintain "operational freedom" to respond to threats and Hezbollah operations in Southern Lebanon, casting doubt on the efficacy of the ceasefire.

Military · Geopolitical

Palestine Action: History will judge Britain for these draconian sentences Submitted by Barry Malone on Thu, 06/18/2026 - 21:40 Activists convicted over direct action against the UK's complicity in the Gaza genocide invite comparisons to the suffragettes before them Protesters hold a banner outside the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on 15 June 2026, amid a legal standoff between the government and Palestine Action (Carlos Jasso/AFP) On There are children in Gaza who shake when they hear that unmistakable buzzing sound, a buzzing sound that many of them have become horribly used to. It's the sound of Israeli drones, a foreboding hum that has become a daily soundtrack for an entire generation of traumatised Palestinian children. The machines are a particularly pernicious weapon in Israel's arsenal of ethnic extermination, capable of being modified for a variety of squalid purposes. Doctors have reported that drones have targeted and shot children. In some cases, those children were already lying wounded on the ground, according to a retired surgeon who volunteered at a hospital in Gaza. Testifying before a committee at the British parliament, Professor Nizam Mamode broke down as he recalled that he had "fished" small bullets out of children's abdomens. The youngest was just three years old.. push({}); And in one of the most chilling and twisted war tactics ever conceived, residents reported drones playing the sounds of crying children and screaming women in an attempt to draw Palestinians out into the open so that they could be killed. It was drones like these, drones built by arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, that activists from the now-banned Palestine Action group took sledgehammers to during a night-time raid on one of the Israeli firm's factories in Britain in August 2024. Last week, four of the people involved in that act of civil disobedience were handed lengthy sentences in a London court, sentences that the judge decided had a "terrorism connection". Their prison terms, delivered as Special Custodial Sentence(s) for Offenders of Particular Concern, ranged from four years and eight months to seven years and eight months. Each will also serve a further year on licence and be subject to 15 years of terrorist notification requirements. Neo-Nazis One vital piece of context, though, calls that terrorist designation into question.. push({}); The convictions returned against the activists ahead of sentencing were for criminal damage, with one of the four found guilty of an additional charge of grievous bodily harm without intent for striking a police officer with a sledgehammer. Those were the decisions the jury reached and believed would form the basis on which members of Palestine Action, which was not a proscribed organisation when the offences were committed, would be sentenced. The only solution left, the only way to fight for what everyone now recognises as a righteous cause, was to change tack But here's the duplicitous part: Judge Jeremy Johnson had not disclosed to the jury his intention to sentence the four as terrorists, reportedly the first time anyone in the UK has been sentenced as a terrorist for a non-violent offence. And, crucially, based on convictions for non-terror-related charges. There is a page on the British government website that lists every group legally proscribed as a terrorist entity in the UK since the Terrorism Act 2000 was passed, the most high-profile of the first collection of inductees being al-Qaeda in 2001. Palestine Action was part of the most recent cohort, officially declared a terrorist organisation in 2025 on the same day as an outfit called the Maniacs Murder Cult (MMC). Yes, really. Let's pause on that for a second and consider just those two examples from the long list of proscribed organisations. Al-Qaeda has carried out multiple mass attacks and killed thousands of people. The MMC has published instructions on how to carry out school shootings, build bombs and develop poisons such as ricin. Its leader, Michail Chkhikvishvili, known as "Commander Butcher", was last month sentenced to 15 years in prison in the US for plotting to kill children from racial minorities by having someone dressed as Santa Claus hand out poisoned sweets. Historic picture Is that a list to which Palestine Action and its activists - people who do not advocate killing but, rather, want to stop it - belong? Or, as many have argued, could they belong to a different lineage: one of the political groups in British history that were demonised in their time but later deemed heroic? The suffragettes, the now-lauded group of women who fought for the right to vote in the early 1900s, employed significantly more extreme tactics than Palestine Action, including attacks on infrastructure, arson and bombings. They were condemned as "little short of nauseating and disgusting to the whole sex" by one MP; another said that their actions were "positive disproof of their capacity for the vote", and they were roundly denounced by the mainstream media. In more recent years, groups that were controversial during the heat of their crusades but are now widely respected include the women of Greenham Common, who set up camp outside a military base to protest nuclear weapons, and the Greenpeace members who took action against nuclear testing and whaling. Outside Britain, actions castigated when they took place but now considered legitimate include the Boston Tea Party protests in the US in 1773, Mahatma Gandhi's Salt March in India in 1930, Umkhonto we Sizwe's 1960s sabotage campaign in South Africa, and the Act Up Aids activism of 1980s New York. There are people who would scoff at those comparisons - some wilfully, but also others who do not have the ability to take a step back from the day-to-day headlines of their own times and see both a historic picture, and a future one. Only solution Underlining this, in a moment of staggering hypocrisy, female MPs gathered in Britain's parliament on 2 July 2025, posing for photos wearing suffragette-style sashes, to mark the 97th anniversary of women winning the right to vote. One MP, Stella Creasy, who wore a T-shirt bearing the words "daughter of Pankhurst" in reference to suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, even defended her double standards in testy arguments on X (formerly Twitter). Perhaps Pankhurst's most famous motto was this: "Deeds not words. " Britain once jailed suffragettes. Now it jails Palestine activists Read More » She was convinced by that point that campaigning through conventional means was not working, and that the resistance from entrenched powers was too stubborn. The only solution left, the only way to fight for what everyone now recognises as a righteous cause, was to change tack. And, she believed, to break the law. That was also clearly the conclusion of the four defendants branded terrorists last week. Up against some of the most powerful nations in the world, against an unyielding British government and against a hostile media, they felt that marches and social media posts were no longer enough. So they acted. Their names are Charlotte Head, Samuel Corner, Leona Kamio and Fatema Rajwani. They are remarkable young people. And history will judge them as such. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. Palestine Action Opinion Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0