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social demographic · sports

Inside the struggle to 'stop the game' between Ireland and Israel Submitted by Larry Ryan on Fri, 07/24/2026 - 12:01 Ireland's football matches against Israel are due to take place later this year but activists are campaigning to stop them Republic of Ireland fans display a banner saying 'Show Israel the red card' during the recent World Cup qualifier against Hungary at the Aviva Stadium (Ryan Byrne/Social media) Off For months, a campaign to stop Ireland ’s football team playing Israel in September and October has raged. In early July, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) appeared to put the matter to bed by passing a motion paving the way for the Nations League games to be played on neutral territory. But this, activists tell Middle East Eye, is not enough. They remain unbowed. Their campaign is going nowhere. “I think it's only going to gain strength,” says Rebecca O'Keefe, from the Irish Sport For Palestine (ISFP) group. “We really, really remain resolute in stopping these games.” “The facts haven't changed,” says O'Keefe, a former Irish international basketball player who has been involved with ISFP since early 2024. “There will be a fresh wave of campaigning, because we're still witnessing genocide , we're still witnessing the total impunity of a genocidal regime.” Through months of wrangling and protest, the FAI has insisted it will fulfill its obligations in the Uefa competition. But discord continues in the grassroots of Irish football, with campaigners adamant that the movement to “stop the game” is far from over. “Let's just say anything and everything, up to and including surrounding the airport to prevent the team travelling … , is on the table,” the League of Ireland Fans for Palestine group declared on social media. After the FAI’s vote on the game, a number of people from that group challenged the association’s president, Paul Cooke. The following day, activists staged a protest on the roof of FAI headquarters in Dublin, vowing further unrest. Ireland has another Nations League game, against Austria, in Dublin in between the Israel fixtures, which is now expected to become a staging ground for further protest. “There was never any issue with the location,” says Ken Powell of the LOI fans group. “It's who is playing the game. Israel has killed 566 footballers in Gaza alone, since 7 October [2023]. So our message remains the same: no game, not here, not anywhere.” But others who have campaigned to cancel the game are now gloomy about their prospects. 'There will be a fresh wave of campaigning, because we're still witnessing genocide, we're still witnessing the total impunity of a genocidal regime' - Rebecca O'Keefe, Irish Sport for Palestine “Realistically, I think the games will proceed. I don’t see where we can go from here unless the players take a stand and I don’t see that happening,” says Stuart Gilhooly, from the Professional Footballers' Association of Ireland. The union - chaired by World Cup hero Pico Lopes of Shamrock Rovers and Cape Verde - has been calling for a boycott . But it only represents players in the domestic Irish leagues, and very few of them ever represent the country at international level. The games in Uefa Nations League Group B3 between Ireland and Israel are now due to take place in Hungary and Serbia, on 27 September and 4 October respectively. Before then, there will be much more debate, argument and protest, as Ireland - a country known worldwide for its Palestinian solidarity, but which is dependent on deep economic ties to the US - grapples with the symbolic weight of the matches. Irish football in trouble When Troy Parrot poked home a last-gasp winner against Hungary in November to propel Ireland into a World Cup qualifier playoff, fans dared to dream. But defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic in March meant it was not to be. Though facilities and training academies are desperately lacking resources, the League of Ireland is on an upward trajectory and the women’s team has reached its own World Cup playoff. But just as some rare optimism was washing over Irish football, the February draw for the Nations League arrived, placing Ireland in a group alongside Austria, Kosovo and Israel. The FAI immediately said it would play both games and host Israel in Dublin. This despite its own motion submitted to Uefa last year to suspend Israel. Calls for Ireland to boycott the games in the face of Israel's genocide in Gaza were swift. "Action of some kind is surely required," remarked Irish football pundit Richie Sadlier on RTE Sports on Thursday, after fans protested against Ireland's upcoming matches against Israel in September and October pic.twitter.com/HcbB6e4yj9 — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) May 29, 2026 The Stop the Game campaign was launched with input from Irish Sport For Palestine , several League of Ireland clubs, fan groups, as well as trade unions and civil society organisations. They have also triggered a legal challenge . A clear schism has emerged between Irish football at an institutional level and its grassroots. It would be an understatement to say that the FAI comes to this at a point of weakness, long beset by financial troubles and rancour off the pitch. The organisation is in the process of shedding 25 percent of its staff, while strategy documents highlight how far behind international peers it has fallen. The association is €38m ($43m) in debt and relies on Uefa to remain financially afloat. While being disappointed by the FAI's approach, Aodhan O Riordain, a Labour Party MEP from Dublin, says: “The FAI shouldn't be in this position. Uefa should have made the decision a long time ago. Israel are in breach of Uefa and Fifa statutes, and Israel should not be competing at all.” O Riordain has been campaigning for a sporting boycott. “It's just the intensity of what's happening in the Middle East - the presentations we as politicians are getting week in week out in the European parliament,” he says. “Nobody is standing up, nobody is exercising any kind of sanction or veto.” 'An Irish solution to an Irish problem' The fallout in Irish football has been felt in a number of directions. Joanna Byrne, the Sinn Fein TD (member of parliament) for Louth, had been co-chairperson of LoI Premier Division side Drogheda United. She claims she was forced out of the voluntary position by the club's US-based owners the Trivela Group, because of her statement calling for the games not to go ahead and for Israel to be removed from the competition. Trivela denies this. A protest outside the Irish parliament in May was followed by the biggest indication of potential trouble during a drab friendly international at the Aviva stadium against Qatar . The coalition of League of Ireland fans threw tennis balls wrapped in Palestinian colours bearing the slogan “#stopthegame” on to the pitch. Ahead of the Qatar match, a number of Irish players were asked about the Israel games. Veteran Seamus Coleman said it should have been dealt with at a higher level. “It is very difficult for us players, difficult for the manager, and all the staff that we are dealing with this… But of course, you know our feelings as human beings.” Seamus Coleman reacts as tennis balls with Palestinian flags on them are thrown onto the pitch during Ireland's game against Qatar (Paul Faith/AFP) Into all of this came the spectre of the old canard, an Irish solution to an Irish problem. First the minister for sport Patrick O'Donovan said he wouldn't attend the Israel game in Dublin , all while the government insisted any decision was solely the preserve of football authorities, having previously supported the games being played. And then eventually came the move to play the home game behind closed doors in Serbia - with Israel's home tie to be played in Hungary. The FAI may have hoped this provided some breathing space, but calls for a boycott persisted, while some campaigners said moving the game away from Dublin robbed them of their right to protest. A letter from the FAI board to its members said that “refusing to play these fixtures would cause significant and lasting harm to Irish football, with no indication that such an action would result in any change to Israel's participation in Uefa competitions”. The letter laid out an initial €5.5m loss in revenue with a “likely” further loss of €10.3m, relegation from the division, and potential exclusion from international competitions at all levels. This also comes against the backdrop of Ireland being a co-host of Euro 2028, as well as bidding to stage the 2029 Women's Champions League Final in Dublin . “I do think the financial aspect was exaggerated,” says O'Keefe, who is sceptical of the FAI's projections. “They're really relying on this narrative that it comes at a great risk, but it has to be pushed back on, because all these potential sanctions, they're hypothetical. “If there are any sanctions imposed, you can take a case to the Court of Arbitration of Sport.” She cites Russia's removal from football competitions, when other federations refused to play them before governing bodies acted. Can Ireland put pressure on Israel? While the Irish police, government and football authorities may breathe a sigh of relief that the problem has been moved away from their shores, activists expect protests to ramp up. “We're looking at all channels of action,” says O'Keefe. “We have been connecting with pro-Palestine Austrian groups on the ground, civil society groups, and we're going to be working alongside them.” Advocating for Palestine and against the actions of Israel isn't confined to football. There is a campaign to get the GAA, the association for Gaelic games, to end its three-decade long National League sponsorship deal with Allianz , after the insurer was named in UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese's June 2025 report for financially benefiting from Israeli forces being in Gaza. 'It's just the intensity of what's happening in the Middle East - the presentations we as politicians are getting week in week out in the European parliament' - Aodhan O Riordain, Irish MEP Presaging football's predicament were calls for the Irish women's basketball team to boycott a Eurobasket qualifier with Israel in November 2023, one of the first sporting flashpoints following the 7 October Hamas-led attack. Basketball Ireland said it faced potentially ruinous repercussions if it forfeited the game, which was eventually played under charged circumstances in Riga. “I think what happens now, is a lot of the pressure goes on players, and that is absolutely not what anyone wanted,” says O'Keefe. “Certainly not from the campaign - we said the organisation and governing bodies need to act because that will take pressure off players.” Though O Riordain is now pessimistic that the games can be stopped, “unless the players themselves en masse decide not to play”, he says he would be “wary of a campaign that targets players”. He also expressed disappointment at abuse being directed at the FAI president. “I don't think that's the way to go forward.” Irish football's official stance on Israel, meanwhile, somewhat resembles the Irish government's wider approach: it talks a good game in standing up for Palestine backed by strong public support, but struggles with more concrete actions, especially with the spectre of external pressure. But O Riordain adds that the game can't be the sole focus of attention in attempting to address Israel's actions in the region, especially with Ireland's six-month presidency of the European Council, which began this month. English Premier League clubs accused of sportswashing Israel's atrocities Read More » “The bigger responsibility is that we use our presidency to push the agenda of ending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, which would be disastrous for Israel, because the EU is Israel's biggest trading partner,” he says. But there remains a belief that a sporting boycott of Israel can be a catalyst for further action, though the FAI's financial weakness and fear of being isolated was clearly a factor in avoiding taking a stance. “Of course that is a risk and that was the main reason the vote was lost in my opinion,” says Gilhooly. “I think others would have followed but nobody will ever know. I do know that someone has to start.” Ireland is not one of the more powerful countries within Uefa. It remains to be seen if other nations that have been otherwise vocal in support of Palestine, such as Spain, Norway or the Netherlands, will use their greater footballing clout to act. Norway’s football association has donated money to a Gaza charity and is reportedly working behind the scenes to isolate Israel . “We don't know, but in 50 years, 100 years' time,” says O Riordain, “if we decided not to play these games, we don't know what kind of a domino effect that would have had. And I think if they had decided not to go ahead with the games, they certainly would have gotten a lot of credit for it.” Sport Dublin News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

social demographic · culture

Japanese 'Arab resistance fighter' Kozo Okamoto dies at 78 Submitted by Elis Gjevori on Fri, 07/24/2026 - 11:13 The leftist was involved in the deadly 1972 attack on Lod Airport in Israel, in which 26 people died Kozo Okamoto attends a ceremony organised by the Palestinian resistance to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lod attack in Lebanon's capital Beirut on 30 May 2022 (Joseph Eid/AFP) Off Kozo Okamoto, a Japanese leftist who took part in a deadly attack on Lod Airport in Israel in 1972 and spent much of his life in Lebanon , has died in Beirut aged 78. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), which protected Okamoto during his years in Lebanon , announced his death on Thursday. It said he had suffered from a prolonged illness. Palestinians knew Okamoto as Ahmad al-Yabani, or Ahmad the Japanese. He rarely appeared publicly after making Lebanon his home but remained a prominent symbol of international solidarity with the Palestinian cause. The PFLP said Okamoto’s life was “marked by immense sacrifices spanning for decades on the battlefields of struggle in support of the Palestinian cause.” It added that he “never compromised nor faltered but remained steadfast to his principles”. Okamoto joined two other members of the Japanese Red Army in an attack on Lod Airport, now Ben Gurion Airport, near Tel Aviv on 30 May 1972. The three men arrived on a flight from Europe before retrieving rifles and grenades from their luggage and opening fire. Okamoto’s two comrades died, while Israeli forces wounded and captured him. The attack, organised with the PFLP, killed 26 people, including 17 Christian pilgrims from Puerto Rico, and eight Israelis. The PFLP said the operation came in response to Israel’s 1968 assault on Beirut International Airport, during which Israeli commandos destroyed more than a dozen civilian aircraft resulting in widespread international condemnation. This photo taken on 10 July 1972 shows Kozo Okamoto (C) - the only surviving member of the three-man "Japanese Red Army" during the opening of his trial before a military tribunal at an undisclosed location in central Israel. (AFP) An Israeli court sentenced Okamoto to life imprisonment. Israel released him in 1985 after 12 years as part of a prisoner exchange with Palestinian resistance groups. While in prison, Okamoto spent much of his sentence in solitary confinement and was forced to “eat from the ground like a dog, with his hands cuffed behind his back,” according to the PFLP. He later reached Lebanon and received political asylum. Lebanese authorities arrested him and four other Japanese nationals in 1997 over their immigration status. Kozo Okamoto (C) - makes the peace gesture as he attends a ceremony organised by Palestinians to mark the 50th anniversary of the Lod attack in Lebanon's capital Beirut on 30 May 2022 (Joseph Eid/AFP) Beirut returned the other four to Japan in 2000 but allowed Okamoto to remain, repeatedly rejecting Japanese demands for his extradition. During his Lebanese trial, Okamoto described himself as “an Arab resistance fighter”. He made a rare public appearance in May 2022 at a Beirut cemetery containing the graves of Palestinian resistance figures, marking 50 years since the airport attack. The Japanese Red Army emerged in 1971 as an internationalist, far-left group closely connected to the Palestinian struggle. It carried out several overseas operations before eventually disbanding. Okamoto remained in Lebanon until his death, remembered by supporters across the region as a figure who left his homeland to stand with Palestinians confronting occupation. Inside Lebanon News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

geopolitical · geopolitical

According to the report, 629 people were injured

military · geopolitical

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps urges all citizens of countries where US military bases are located to immediately move at least 500 meters away from those locations

geopolitical · geopolitical

The aircraft has been equipped with a new sighting system, onboard defense, and an expanded range of weapons, including guided missiles

economic · economic

Luxembourg will not renew approval for Israeli war bonds, finance minister confirms Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 07/24/2026 - 11:33 Decision means Israel Bonds will lose their only EU regulatory home – unless another member state agrees to step in Luxembourg's Finance Minister Gilles Roth said the country's financial regulator had decided not to extend the sale of Israel Bonds (X) Off Luxembourg will not renew its approval for the sale of Israel Bonds in the European Union, the country’s finance minister has confirmed. In an interview with broadcaster RTL, Gilles Roth said the decision had been taken solely by the CSSF, Luxembourg's financial regulator, which he said had decided two months ago not to extend the bond programme beyond its 31 August expiry date. Campaign groups in Luxembourg and across the EU have long called for Israel Bond sales to European investors to be stopped. As previously reported by Middle East Eye, they say the programme, which raises billions of dollars for the Israeli government, has helped fund Israel’s wars in Gaza , Lebanon and Iran . Roth defended the CSSF against criticism, arguing that the regulator had followed European criteria throughout and that many of the accusations levelled at it were unwarranted. The discontinuation, he insisted, was a matter of regulatory compliance rather than political pressure. That account, however, sits awkwardly within the chronology of recent events. A decision taken two months ago by the CSSF would place it in May, at the height of a legal and political campaign against the bonds – and campaigners who spent months being told the government had no power to act will note that the outcome matches precisely what they were demanding. The confirmation also follows a public statement issued by Amnesty International on 21 July warning that Luxembourg and all EU member states must stop the sale of Israel bonds or risk complicity in Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Unless another member state now agrees to take on the programme, the bonds can no longer be sold to investors across the EU. What are ‘Israel Bonds’? Israel Bonds are issued through the US -registered Development Corporation for Israel (DCI) and marketed with the slogan "Stand with Israel. Israel is at War”. They are not ordinary bonds, like those issued by the Israeli government itself. Israel Bonds are retail bonds sold directly to ordinary members of the public, religious organisations and local government funds – often through diaspora networks and appeals to solidarity. ‘Illegal and immoral’: How Luxembourg became the EU hub for Israeli war bonds Read More » Since October 2023, they have raised $7.7bn for the Israeli government, according to figures published by DCI itself. Proceeds then flow as unrestricted general financing into Israel's treasury at a moment when military expenditure has surged from roughly 20 percent to over 30 percent of total government consumption. Since Luxembourg's approval last September, the bonds have been offered to the public in Austria, France , Germany , Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. Luxembourg's role as the EU's regulatory home for Israel Bonds came about through a chain of political pressure elsewhere in Europe. For years, the programme had been anchored in Ireland, with its central bank serving as the EU regulatory gateway – a role that had previously fallen to the UK before Brexit. But sustained parliamentary and civil society pressure in Dublin – linking the bond sales to the financing of military operations in Gaza – eventually forced a change. In September, Ireland's Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf wrote to the Oireachtas finance committee confirming the bank would not renew its approval. The CSSF stepped in the same day, approving a fresh 12-month prospectus – without first consulting Luxembourg's Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. From that moment on, the Luxembourg government insisted the matter was out of its hands. When activists from the Stop Israel Bonds campaign protested outside the finance ministry this spring, Roth's office issued a statement saying only that "the CSSF is the competent authority" – the same line given to journalists in February, and repeated by ministers when questioned in parliament in late May. 'Morally and legally wrong' Pressure on Luxembourg had been building across several fronts, and it peaked in May. That month, Amnesty International Luxembourg and the Committee for a Just Peace in the Middle East convened a conference in the capital, bringing together legal scholars, economists, parliamentarians and international law experts to examine the country's legal exposure over the bonds. 'If no EU member states step in after Luxembourg, it could force Israel to default on some of its debt, and at the very least will crash the value of the bonds' - Shir Hever, political economist A detailed legal report released at the event concluded that Luxembourg's approval risked violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention and the International Court of Justice's Advisory Opinion of July 2024. It also raised investor protection concerns, arguing that DCI's marketing obscured material financial and legal risks. Despite Israel being at war and running a deficit of nearly seven percent of GDP, the bonds yield less than four percent – far below the returns investors would typically demand in wartime. Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, addressed the conference and was unsparing. "The sale of these bonds is illegal under international law because it goes directly to funding the genocide," she said. "It is morally and legally wrong to sell these bonds." Dr Shahd Hammouri of Law for Palestine, one of the report's authors, argued that the CSSF had possessed – and failed to exercise – the discretion to refuse. "Luxembourg did have discretionary authority under the prospectus regulation to refuse the approval whenever there are systematic risks to public interest, peace, and the maintenance of an unlawful regime," she said. Irish Senator Alice-Mary Higgins, who had helped force the original transfer out of Ireland, told the conference what was at stake if Luxembourg walked away. "There is no other placement: unless we agree to transfer it as the home state, and another country agrees to take it, Israel cannot sell its bonds within the EU," she said. What happens next? EU regulations permit Israel to seek a new home for the bonds among the bloc's 27 members. Campaigners behind the Stop Israel Bonds initiative – coordinating pressure across Luxembourg, Ireland, and the wider EU – have been explicit that preventing a transfer to Germany or another willing host is their next objective. Speaking to MEE after the announcement, political economist Shir Hever, who addressed the May conference, said the consequences could extend well beyond Luxembourg. "Israel finances its wars with debt," he said. With the Israeli economy under severe strain and skilled workers emigrating, "bonds raise money which keep the war machine marching at the cost of a growing debt". Ireland's central bank to stop approving sale of Israeli 'war bonds' Read More » He credited the Luxembourg decision to pressure from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and civil society groups, and said it could prove a turning point. "If no EU member states step in after Luxembourg, it could force Israel to default on some of its debt, and at the very least will crash the value of the bonds," he said. "Anyone who was stupid enough to buy the bonds will lose some or all of their investment. It could mean a tipping point for Israel's economy as well. A state in default cannot import weapons and ammunition,” he adds. Amnesty has made the same argument, calling on Ireland, as the bonds' former host state, to decline any transfer request, and on all other EU member states to refuse to accept the transfer or approve a new prospectus. “It is a political choice to allow these bonds to be sold in Europe," Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International's regional director for Europe, said in the organisation's 21 July statement. "One of the most obvious and effective ways to end Israel's genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip is to stop financing it. By continuing to facilitate the sale of these bonds, EU member states risk complicity in Israel's international crimes against Palestinians." Between 2022 and 2024, Israel's military budget grew from 4.2 percent to 8.3 percent of GDP. MEE has approached the CSSF and Luxembourg's Ministry of Finance for comment on the terms and timing of the non-renewal. Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

military · geopolitical

Continued military activity in Enerhodar and the surrounding area has disrupted the water supply to both the city and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

economic · economic

After the US Supreme Court struck down Donald Trump's emergency tariffs, the White House has turned to another trade law linked to alleged human rights abuses. DW explains the new tariffs and the debate surrounding them.

geopolitical · geopolitical

The Iraqi head of government’s press service called on the media "to be clear and rely on official sources without spreading unconfirmed information or reports, citing unidentified sources"

geopolitical · geopolitical

Spain head coach hits out at ‘acts of aggression’ Fifa investigation into incident yet to result in sanctions Spain’s head coach, Luis de la Fuente, has hit out at the “intolerable, unacceptable” behaviour of Argentina players in the immediate aftermath of Sunday’s World Cup final. At the forefront were Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes, who attacked Rodri and Eric García respectively at New York New Jersey Stadium as Spain’s players celebrated winning the World Cup for a second time in the country’s history. Paredes also confronted Spain’s Gavi. Continue reading...

social demographic · sports

Cammy Devlin says it was "too stressful" to head to the World Cup with his club future still to be decided - although the extra time taken did lead to a move to Rangers.

social demographic · culture

The agreement identifies innovation in energy technologies, civilian nuclear energy, and related areas as promising fields for future cooperation

social demographic · sports

Cristian Volpato, who switched from Italy to Australia before World Cup 2026, failed a roadside drug test in Sydney.

social demographic · sports

Paralympic medallist Daphne Schrager insists she has "never cheated" after being given a two-year ban following an "unintentional" positive test for a banned substance.

geopolitical · geopolitical

Sergey Lavrov and Bakhtiyor Saidov held talks in a warm and friendly atmosphere

economic · economic

Israeli banks set to sever financial links with Palestinian banks, sparking payment fears Submitted by Fayha Shalash on Fri, 07/24/2026 - 09:54 Two Israeli banks cutting ties with Palestinian financial system could disrupt trade, salary payments, imports and financial transfers across occupied territories An Israeli man stands beside an automated teller machine at a Bank Hapoalim branch in Jerusalem, 1 May 2020 (Menahem Kahana/AFP) Off Israeli banks Hapoalim and Discount have informed Palestinian banks of their intention to halt vital correspondent banking services within weeks, news agency AFP reported. Five Palestinian banks that rely on Bank Hapoalim for correspondent banking services will lose access to these services on 13 August, while banks that conduct transactions through Discount Bank face a similar fate on 1 September, the report quoted Palestinian banking officials as saying. The Israeli finance ministry said that the decision was made due to "increasing public risks and concerns about private lawsuits that could target Israeli banking institutions". In a statement, the ministry said it is in discussion with the two banks to ensure the continuation of correspondent banking services "in a safe and responsible manner," while protecting Israel's security and economic interests. Palestinian banks are linked to Bank Hapoalim and Bank Discount through correspondent banking relationships, an operational link connecting the Palestinian banking system to the Israeli financial system. The linkage ensures smooth functioning of essential operations such as executing payments in shekels between Palestinian and Israeli banks, settling payments for Palestinian imports from Israel (which constitute the bulk of Palestinian trade), receiving and transferring wages of Palestinian workers employed in Israel and the settlements. The arrangement also allows for returning surplus shekel banknotes accumulated in Palestinian banks to the Israeli banking system, and facilitating transfers between Palestinian and Israeli companies. If the ties are severed without any alternative being found, it could have far-reaching consequences, including disruptions in payments between Palestinian and Israeli companies. The move will also disrupt essential imports such as food, fuel, and medicine, and worsen the existing shekel cash accumulation crisis within Palestinian banks; a problem stemming from existing restrictions on repatriating surplus cash to Israel. 'Subdue Palestinians' The impact on the Palestinian Authority would depend on how long the disruption lasts and whether a temporary or permanent solution is reached. If correspondent banking relationships are indeed severed, the Palestinian Authority could struggle to pay public sector salaries because of delayed or more costly fund transfers. Israel approves over $400m to fund 34 settlements in occupied West Bank Read More » Trade disruptions could also reduce tax revenues, increasing fiscal pressure, while payment delays and shortages of shekels could weaken public confidence in the banking system. Economic expert Nasr Abdel Karim told Middle East Eye that the Israeli government has been implementing "every possible policy for the past four years to subdue the Palestinians in one way or another". Karim said the move was politically motivated and would add to the challenges already facing Palestinians, including fuel shortages, delayed salaries, an oversupply of shekels in local banks, high youth unemployment and deteriorating living conditions. He said the decision would place additional pressure on traders and the private sector. "Banks' decisions are based on minimising risks and protecting the interests of their shareholders and depositors. The uncertainty created by Smotrich left the banks no room for manoeuvre, so they decided to sever the relationship. But this, of course, comes within the context of expansionist politics," he added. Extending economic sovereignty The increased reliance on cash instead of electronic transfers is another challenge facing the Palestinian banking sector, with its accompanying higher risks and costs. There is also a possibility that banks' ability to provide certain services to their customers may decline if the disruption continues for an extended period. Explained: The Israeli measures imposing de facto annexation in the West Bank Read More » Palestinian officials as well as international bodies have warned that the disruption could lead to a broader economic and banking crisis if an alternative mechanism is not found or the current arrangements are not extended. Political analyst Mohammed al-Qeeq told Middle East Eye that Israel deliberately sought to sever all ties with the Palestinian Authority to pave the way for its collapse by dealing with private companies that would act as its substitutes. According to Qeeq, this will allow Israel to deal with Palestinians without having to deal with the Palestinian Authority. “Israel treats the West Bank as Judea and Samaria, which means to the international community that there is no sovereign Palestinian state. It means that it is Israeli land, and dealings will be with companies, not with the Palestinian Authority,” he explained. In his view, the banks’ move is a crucial part of the annexation plan to dismantle the Palestinian Authority and cripple the Palestinians by preventing them from having an independent economy and even basic necessities like fuel, thus reducing them to mere temporary residents in this place. Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

social demographic · culture

The killing of the settler in occupied West Bank was 'unplanned', Israeli army says The Israeli army announced that the shooting and killing of the Israeli settler that took place in the occupied West Bank earlier this morning was "unplanned." In its initial investigation, the Israeli military attributed the main cause of the incident to the Israeli settlers who crossed into an off-limits area in the occupied West Bank without coordination with the Israeli forces, leading to clashes with Palestinians. Despite that, the Israeli military announced that it is conducting an operation in Nablus to arrest dozens of Palestinians who "participated in the incident."

geopolitical · geopolitical

At least six people have been killed and dozens injured as a result of a Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast on the afternoon of 24 July.

social demographic · culture

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations and China have called for a lasting settlement to the current war in the Middle East and pledged further cooperation on energy security. A joint statement, released after a meeting between the bloc’s foreign ministers and their Chinese counterpart in Manila, came amid an ongoing energy crisis. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused prices to rise and led to shortages across Southeast Asia, prompting the Philippines to declare a national energy...

geopolitical · geopolitical

A Hong Kong taxi driver contesting an HK$8.4 million (US$1.07 million) personal injury lawsuit has denied deliberately ramming his car into a crowd during the 2019 anti-government protests, insisting he lost control of the vehicle after being assaulted by vigilantes. Henry Cheng Kwok-chuen took the witness stand on Friday to defend against the claim by Park Hoi-lam, who suffered serious injuries in the collision in Sham Shui Po on October 6, 2019. Park, a kindergarten clerk, accused Cheng of...

military · geopolitical

Iran's IRGC attacks Al-Adiri base in Kuwait and observation tower in Bahrain The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it targeted Al-Adiri military base in Kuwait as well as an obesrvation tower of the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain.

social demographic · culture

In this edition of Europe Rendezvous, we travel to Italy, one of the European Union's founding members, to examine how the country's democratic institutions have come under increasing pressure. It may be the season of la dolce vita, but life has been far from sweet for migrants, women seeking abortions in parts of Italy, and journalists facing growing political pressure on the media. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni leads a coalition of conservatives and the far right, and as the 2027 elections approach, her government has been accused of seeking greater influence over the judiciary, the media and the electoral system.

social demographic · culture

In this edition of Europe Rendezvous, we travel to Italy, one of the European Union's founding members, to examine how the country's democratic institutions have come under increasing pressure. It may be the season of la dolce vita, but life has been far from sweet for migrants, women seeking abortions in parts of Italy, and journalists facing growing political pressure on the media. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni leads a coalition of conservatives and the far right, and as the 2027 elections approach, her government has been accused of seeking greater influence over the judiciary, the media and the electoral system.

geopolitical · geopolitical

Governor Alexander Sokolov added that the fire at the enterprise had been extinguished and water and electricity supply restored

social demographic · culture

The operator says it needs more details before deciding whether to join Andy Burnham's new scheme.

social demographic · culture

The TK705STi’s highly responsive, low-latency performance makes gameplay ultra-realistic. For movies and TV? It’s a purely average home projector.

geopolitical · geopolitical

Sadiq Khan says Netanyahu perpetrating genocide and not welcome in London Submitted by MEE staff on Fri, 07/24/2026 - 11:16 London mayor says if Israeli PM visits city then he would lobby UK government to enforce ICC arrest warrant Mayor of London Sadiq Khan, speaks at the Guildhall in central London, on 23 June 2026 (AFP/Pool/Jordan Pettitt) Off Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, has said that Benjamin Netanyahu is the perpetrator of genocide in Gaza, and that he would lobby the UK government to arrest the Israeli premier if he ever visited. Earlier this week, Zohran Mamdani, New York’s mayor, said that Netanyahu was a war criminal and that the federal US government should arrest him on behalf of the International Criminal Court during a planned trip to America later this year. The London mayor was asked on Thursday by Channel 4 News if he would “follow suit”. “Well, I have different powers to the mayor of New York,” Khan said. “But I do believe a genocide is being committed in Gaza. I think Netanyahu is responsible.” He added: “And as a perpetrator of genocide, I think he’s broken the law. And I think justice needs to happen, and that means him being brought to book.” Khan was asked if that meant he would lobby the UK government, led by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham, to enforce the ICC’s arrest warrant. “Well the good news is, and this is very good news, Netanyahu is not coming to London. Because if he did, he would feel the full weight of public opinion if he came. “People who commit genocide are not welcome in London.” In an interview with Channel 4 News, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he would lobby the UK prime minister to enforce the ICC arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he were to visit London. pic.twitter.com/hi6mf0ubLU — Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) July 24, 2026 “If there is any evidence of him coming to London, I’ll be lobbying the prime minister to make sure the law is enforced.” When finally asked if Netanyahu was welcome in London, Khan concluded: “People who commit genocide are not welcome in London.” Netanyahu and his former defence minister, Yoav Gallant, were issued arrest warrants in November 2024 on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, allegedly committed in Gaza since October 2023. 'A war criminal' It was the first instance in the court's 24-year history in which it issued arrest warrants for western-allied senior officials. Mamdani said in a video address on Tuesday that he did not have the authority to carry out the arrest warrant but would urge the government to do so. Meet the Mamdani-endorsed candidate that could become the first Palestinian in New York Senate Read More » "Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal, the architect of a horrific genocide against the Palestinian people," Mamdani said in the two-minute clip that has garnered nearly 100 million views. "He is responsible for the killing of more than 73,000 people, for the maiming of tens of thousands of children," Mamdani said, before adding that the Israeli premier, who has attacked six countries since 2023, was responsible for the killing of aid workers and journalists. "It is clear that we do not have the independent legal authority to enforce this warrant. The federal government, however, does, and I call on them to join the ICC and execute this warrant," he added. Netanyahu is expected to travel to New York in September for the United Nations General Assembly. All 125 state parties to the Rome Statute, including all EU members, are under a legal obligation to arrest Netanyahu and Gallant and surrender them to the court. However, the court has no enforcement powers, and a trial cannot commence in absentia. The US and Israel are not signatories to the Rome Statute. The UK is a signatory and would be expected under its obligations to surrender Netanyahu to the court. Israel's genocide in Gaza News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

social demographic · education

In an era where short-form videos and viral commentary can dominate public discourse on geopolitics, one Chinese political scientist is on a mission to correct what he calls a “negative one” level of understanding. Yan Xuetong, honorary president of Tsinghua University’s Institute of International Relations in Beijing, is doing this by challenging the public to avoid social media sensationalism and to take a 60-minute closed-book test on their grasp of foreign affairs. The fourth edition of the...

military · geopolitical

A series of explosions sounded near a military base hosting US forces in northern Iraq and sirens rang out in Bahrain on Friday, hours after the American military said it finished its 13th night of strikes against Iran. The conflict has flared again over the past week, as the US has pounded Iran while Tehran has attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted US assets and allies in the region. The strait, a crucial passage for the world’s energy supplies, is at the centre of the latest...

social demographic · sports

According to the regulator, measures of underlying inflation remain within the range of 4-5% in annualized terms